brazil nut
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. The edible seed of the Bertholletia excelsa tree: A large, three-sided nut with a very hard, dark brown shell and a white, oily kernel, native to South America. 2. The tree (Bertholletia excelsa) that produces this nut: A tall, tropical evergreen tree found in the Amazon rainforest.
Usage Examples
- As the edible seed:
- She added chopped brazil nuts to the cookie dough for extra crunch.
- It can be difficult to crack open a brazil nut without a proper nutcracker.
- Referring to the tree (less common in everyday speech):
- The brazil nut is one of the tallest trees in the Amazon rainforest.
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in the plural form "brazil nuts" when referring to the food item.
- In botanical and ecological contexts, the tree is a key species, and its reproduction depends on specific rainforest animals like agoutis.
Variants and Related Words
- Brazil nut tree: A more explicit term for the tree species .
- Pará nut: An alternative name for the brazil nut, derived from the Brazilian state of Pará.
Synonyms
- (For the nut) Pará nut.
- (For the tree) Bertholletia excelsa (scientific name).
Notes on Different Meanings
The primary meaning refers to the nut as a food product. The secondary meaning refers to the tree itself. Context usually makes the intended meaning clear.
Noun
- three-sided tropical American nut with white oily meat and hard brown shell
- tall South American tree bearing brazil nuts