nut

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 (often in compounds) a small hard fruit with a very hard shell that grows on some trees: to crack a nut (= open it) * a Brazil nut * a hazelnut * nuts and raisins 2 a small piece of metal with a hole through the centre that is screwed onto a BOLT to hold pieces of wood, machinery, etc. together: to tighten a nut * a wheel nut 3 (BrE, slang) a person's head or brain 4 (informal) (BrE also nutter) a strange or crazy person: He's a complete nut, if you ask me. seealsoNUTS, NUTTY 5 (informal) (in compounds) a person who is extremely interested in a particular subject, activity, etc: a fitness / tennis / computer nut 6 (nuts) [pl.] (slang) a man's TESTICLES IDIOMS do your nut (BrE, informal, spoken) to become very angry: She'll do her nut when she finds out! a hard / tough nut (informal) a person who is difficult to deal with or to influence a hard / tough nut (to crack) a difficult problem or situation to deal with the nuts and bolts (of sth) (informal) the basic practical details of a subject or an activity off your nut (BrE, informal, spoken) crazy moreatSLEDGEHAMMER verb [VN] (-tt-) (BrE, informal) to deliberately hit sb hard with your head: He grabbed my tie and I thought he was going to nut me in the face.