# coconut

/ˈkoʊkəˌnət/ (US) · /kˈəʊkənˌʌt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/coconut
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the fruit

noun · CEFR A2

a large, round fruit with a hard brown shell, white flesh, and liquid inside.

For teachers: the large, fibrous-husked fruit of the coconut palm, containing a hard-shelled seed with edible white endosperm and clear liquid.

- He used a heavy knife to crack open the coconut and drink the water inside.
- The chef demonstrated how to extract the milk from a fresh coconut by grating the white flesh and pressing it through a fine cloth.

### 2. the tree

noun · CEFR B1

the tall tropical palm tree that produces coconuts.

For teachers: the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera), a tall, branchless tropical tree with a crown of large pinnate leaves.

- The beach was lined with tall coconuts that provided some shade from the sun.
- The plantation consisted of thousands of coconuts, each carefully spaced to ensure maximum yield during the harvest season.

### 3. the head

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · British English

a person's head.

For teachers: the human head, often used in the context of being hit or struck.

- Watch out for that low beam or you will hit your coconut.
- The comedian made a joke about falling over and nearly cracking his coconut on the pavement.

### 4. offensive ethnic slur

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Vulgar

an insulting word for a person of color who is accused of acting like a white person.

For teachers: a derogatory ethnic slur directed at a person of color perceived as having assimilated into white culture, implying they are 'brown on the outside, white on the inside'.

- The politician was hurt when protesters called him a coconut during the rally.
- The use of the term 'coconut' in the debate was widely condemned as a racist attack on the candidate's cultural identity.

Usage: This term is highly offensive and should be avoided.

Teaching tip: This sense is extremely derogatory; learners should be aware of its offensive nature to avoid using it accidentally.

## Examples

- She uses fresh coconut to make the cake.
- The islanders rely on the coconut for food, water, and oil, making it a vital part of their daily diet.
- While the outer husk is often discarded, the inner meat of the coconut is processed into various products ranging from milk to desiccated flakes for baking.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.