Chestnut

/ˈtʃɛsnʌt/

nounBeginner📊CommonGeneral
2 meanings2 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

The fruit of the chestnut tree, usually brown and enclosed in a spiky shell; also the tree itself.

/ˈtʃɛsnʌt/

nounneutralBeginner
General

A type of nut and tree.

We gathered chestnuts in the woods.

💡 Simply: Imagine a spiky ball with tasty nuts inside – that's a chestnut! We roast them and eat them.

👶 For kids: It's like a nut, but it grows on a tree with prickly skins.

More Examples

2

Chestnut trees are common in many parts of Europe.

How It's Used

Culinary

"The roasted chestnuts were a delicious treat."

Botany

"The chestnut tree's leaves turned brown in autumn."

2

Having the reddish-brown color of a chestnut.

/ˈtʃɛsnʌt/

adjectiveneutralBeginner
General

Of the color of a chestnut.

Her hair was a beautiful chestnut brown.

💡 Simply: It's a brownish-red color, like the shell of the nut.

👶 For kids: It's a color like a brown horse's coat.

How It's Used

Fashion

"She wore a chestnut-colored dress."

Tip:Think of the color of a chestnut's shell.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

From Old French chastain, from Vulgar Latin castanea, from Greek kastaneia, ultimately from a pre-Greek Mediterranean language.

Chestnuts have been a food source for centuries, with evidence of their use dating back to ancient times.

Memory tip

Think of a 'chest' full of nuts.

Word Origin

Original meaning

"The original Greek word referred to the nut itself."

Base: chestnut
roasted chestnutschestnut brownchestnut tree

Common misspellings

chesnutchesnutt

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written