nut
n. countable A2 Elementary Oxford US //ˈnət// UK //nˈʌt// nut
n. a dry fruit with a hard shell that you can usually eat. It grows on trees or bushes and contains a seed inside.
n. a dry, one-seeded fruit with a hard, woody shell that does not open at maturity. In informal contexts, it can also refer to a person who behaves in an eccentric or foolish manner.
I like to snack on a handful of nuts every afternoon.
The recipe calls for chopped walnuts, but you can use any kind of nut you prefer.
While botanists define a true nut as having a hard shell that does not split, many culinary nuts like almonds and pistachios are technically seeds of drupes.
Usage
Countable when referring to the fruit or an eccentric person; often used in the plural to describe a general food category.