peanut

[pee-nuht, -nuht]

noun

1. the pod or the enclosed edible seed of the plant, Arachis hypogaea, of the legume family: the pod is forced underground in growing, where it ripens.

2. the plant itself.

3. any small or insignificant person or thing.

4. peanuts,

   1. Informal.,  a very small amount of money.

      working for peanuts.

   2. Slang.,  barbiturates.

   3. small pieces of Styrofoam used as a packing material.

adjective

1. of or relating to the peanut or peanuts.

2. made with or from peanuts.

3. Informal.,  small, insignificant, or petty.

peanut

/ ˈpiːˌnʌt /

noun

1. See also peanuts

   1. a leguminous plant, Arachis hypogaea, of tropical America: widely cultivated for its edible seeds. The seed pods are forced underground where they ripen See also hog peanut

   2. Also called: goober.  goober pea.  groundnut.  monkey nut. the edible nutlike seed of this plant, used for food and as a source of oil

Other Word Forms

• peanutty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of peanut¹

An Americanism dating back to 1790–1800; pea ¹ + nut

Example Sentences

“Now we’re lucky if we get a cup of water and a stale bag of peanuts.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There isn’t a seafood counter, and a small “Georgia Grown” section offered mostly potatoes, onions and peanuts, though it will carry more items in the summer months.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Draft beer, peanuts and big-screen sports... the scene is reminiscent of pubs worldwide, but in Saudi Arabia's capital, customers in white robes or black veils sip alcohol-free pints with no expectation of a hangover.

Read more on Barron's

He holds me up like a bag of peanuts.

Read more on Literature

Colored people had to sit in the balcony of the movie theater, often disparagingly called the “peanut gallery.”

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• groundnut