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peanut

n. · v.
US //ˈpiˌnət// UK //pˈiːnʌt// peanut
  1. 1 the food (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    a small, oval seed that grows in a shell underground and is eaten as a snack.

    the edible seed of a South American legume, typically roasted or salted for consumption.

    Example

    She bought a bag of salted peanuts to eat during the movie.

    Example

    The chef added crushed peanuts to the satay sauce to provide a crunchy texture and a rich, earthy flavour profile.
    • groundnut
    • monkey nut
  2. 2 small amount of money (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    a very small or tiny amount of money, especially when paid for work.

    a trivial or insignificant sum of money, often used in the plural to describe inadequate wages.

    Example

    He quit his job because they were paying him peanuts for ten hours of work.

    Example

    Despite the high level of technical skill required for the role, the startup was offering peanuts compared to the industry standard salary.

    Usage

    Almost always used in the plural form 'peanuts'.
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  1. 3 tie prank (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Slang British English

    to pull someone's necktie so that the knot becomes very tight and difficult to undo.

    to pull the narrow end of a person's necktie as a prank, causing the knot to tighten excessively.

    Example

    The school bully tried to peanut my tie during the lunch break.

    Example

    The headmaster banned the practice after several students had to have their expensive silk ties cut off because they had been peanutted so tightly.

    Usage

    This is a transitive verb requiring a direct object.

Origin

From pea + nut, perhaps a folk etymology of pinda, pinder (still found in Southern US dialects).

Idioms2 entries

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