walnut

walnut — noun

1. a hard-shelled nut with a light brown, wrinkled surface and a mild bitter flavou

1.nounB1
Definition

a hard-shelled nut with a light brown, wrinkled surface and a mild bitter flavour, eaten on its own or used in baking and cooking.

Example

Jiwoo chopped some walnuts and added them to the cake batter.

chopped walnuts / added [them] to [dish]

A handful of walnuts makes a healthy afternoon snack.

Common collocations
  • shell walnuts
  • crushed walnuts
  • chopped walnuts
  • walnut pieces
  • walnut oil

Usage Note

Can be used as a countable noun (a walnut, two walnuts) when referring to individual nuts, or as an uncountable noun when referring to the ingredient (add some walnut to the salad).

Common Mistakes

I ate a walnut cookie' (when the cookie contained pecans).
I ate a pecan cookie.
Walnuts have a wrinkled, brain-like surface; pecans are smoother and oblong in shape.

2. a tree that loses its leaves in winter, with broad leaves, that produces walnuts

2.nounB1
Definition

a tree that loses its leaves in winter, with broad leaves, that produces walnuts and is grown in many cooler parts of the world for its nuts and its wood.

Example

An old walnut tree stood in the corner of the garden.

walnut tree in a garden / specific location

The farmer planted three walnut trees near the stream.

Common collocations
  • plant a walnut tree
  • walnut orchard
  • walnut grove
  • young walnut tree

3. the hard, warm-toned brown wood obtained from walnut trees, valued for its attra

3.nounB2
Definition

the hard, warm-toned brown wood obtained from walnut trees, valued for its attractive grain and used to make fine furniture, cabinets, and musical instruments.

Example

The dining table is made of solid walnut.

collocation: made of solid + [wood]

Christopher chose solid walnut for his new bookshelves.

Common collocations
  • solid walnut
  • walnut furniture
  • walnut cabinet
  • walnut veneer
  • polished walnut

Usage Note

Used as an uncountable noun when referring to the material (a table made of walnut).

Idioms

Walnut

idiom

a city in southern California, east of Los Angeles, known as a quiet residential area with many parks and good schools.

The Chen family moved to Walnut because of the highly rated schools.

Walnut is about thirty minutes east of downtown Los Angeles by car.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Walnuts are distinct from other nuts in having a wrinkled, brain-like surface and a mildly bitter flavour. Pecans are smoother, oblong, and sweeter — common in pies. Almonds are flatter with a pointed tip and a mild, slightly sweet taste; they are often eaten raw or used in marzipan. Hazelnuts are round with a smooth, hard brown shell and a sweet, buttery flavour popular in chocolate spreads. Brazil nuts are large, wedge-shaped, and rich in selenium, with a creamy texture. In cooking, walnuts are frequently used in salads, baked goods, and pesto, while almonds and hazelnuts are more common in desserts and confectionery.

pecanalmond ↗hazelnutbrazil nut

Common collocations

Nouns

  • walnut tree
  • walnut wood
  • walnut shell
  • walnut oil
  • walnut cake
  • walnut piece

Phrases

  • a handful of walnuts
  • a bag of walnuts
  • a cup of walnuts

Prepositions

  • made of walnut
  • made from walnut

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word walnut comes from Old English 'wealhhnutu', a compound of 'wealh' (meaning foreign or Celtic) and 'hnutu' (nut). The Romans introduced walnut trees to Britain, and the Anglo-Saxons called the nut a 'foreign nut' to set it apart from native nuts such as hazelnuts. Over time, the pronunciation shifted through Middle English to the modern form walnut.