3 N‑UNCOUNT Nurture is care that is given to someone while they are growing and developing. □ The human organism learns partly by nature, partly by nurture.
nut /nʌ t/ (nuts )
1 N‑COUNT The firm shelled fruit of some trees and bushes are called nuts . Some nuts can be eaten. □ Nuts and seeds are good sources of vitamin E.
2 → see also groundnut , hazelnut , peanut
3 N‑COUNT A nut is a thick metal ring which you screw onto a metal rod called a bolt. Nuts and bolts are used to hold things such as pieces of machinery together. □ If you want to repair the wheels, you just undo the four nuts. □ …nuts and bolts that haven't been tightened up.
4 N‑COUNT If you describe someone as, for example, a football nut or a health nut , you mean that they are extremely enthusiastic about the thing mentioned. [INFORMAL ] □ …a football nut who spends thousands of pounds travelling to watch games.
5 ADJ If you are nuts about something or someone, you like them very much. [INFORMAL , FEELINGS ] □ [+ about ] She's nuts about you.
6 N‑COUNT If you refer to someone as a nut , you mean that they are mad. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ There's some nut out there with a gun.
7 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you say that someone goes nuts or is nuts , you mean that they go crazy or are very foolish. [INFORMAL ] □ You guys are nuts. □ A number of the French players went nuts, completely out of control.
8 PHRASE If someone goes nuts , or in British English does their nut , they become extremely angry. [INFORMAL ] □ My father would go nuts if he saw bruises on me. □ We heard your sister doing her nut.
9 PHRASE If you talk about the nuts and bolts of a subject or an activity, you are referring to the detailed practical aspects of it rather than abstract ideas about it. □ He's more concerned about the nuts and bolts of location work.
nu t-bro wn COLOUR Nut-brown is used to describe things that are dark reddish brown in colour.
nut|case /nʌ tke I s/ (nutcases ) also nut case N‑COUNT If you refer to someone as a nutcase , you mean that they are mad or that their behaviour is very strange. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ The woman's a nutcase. She needs locking up.
nut|cracker /nʌ tkrækə r / (nutcrackers ) N‑COUNT A nutcracker is a device used to crack the shell of a nut. Nutcrackers can be used to refer to one or more of these devices.
nut|meg /nʌ tmeg/ N‑UNCOUNT Nutmeg is a spice made from the seed of a tree that grows in hot countries. Nutmeg is usually used to flavour sweet food.
nu|tri|ent /njuː triənt, [AM ] nuː -/ (nutrients ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Nutrients are substances that help plants and animals to grow. □ …the role of vegetable fibres, vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients.
nu|tri|tion /njuːtr I ʃ ə n, [AM ] nuː -/ N‑UNCOUNT Nutrition is the process of taking food into the body and absorbing the nutrients in those foods. □ There are alternative sources of nutrition to animal meat.
nu|tri|tion|al /njuːtr I ʃən ə l, [AM ] nuː -/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] The nutritional content of food is all the substances that are in it which help you to remain healthy. □ It does sometimes help to know the nutritional content of foods. □ Cooking vegetables reduces their nutritional value. ● nu|tri|tion|al|ly ADV □ …a nutritionally balanced diet.
nu|tri|tion|ist /njuːtr I ʃən I st, [AM ] nuː-/ (nutritionists ) N‑COUNT A nutritionist is a person whose job is to give advice on what you should eat to remain healthy. □ Nutritionists say only 33% of our calorie intake should be from fat.
nu|tri|tious /njuːtr I ʃəs, [AM ] nuː-/ ADJ Nutritious food contains substances which help your body to be healthy. □ It is always important to choose enjoyable, nutritious foods. □ Some ready made meals are nutritious and very easy to prepare.
nu|tri|tive /njuː tr I t I v, [AM ] nuː -/ ADJ [ADJ n] The nutritive content of food is all the substances that are in it which help you to remain healthy. □ Coconut milk has little nutritive value.
nut|shell /nʌ tʃel/ PHRASE You can use in a nutshell to indicate that you are saying something in a very brief way, using few words. □ In a nutshell, the owners thought they knew best.
nut|ter /nʌ tə r / (nutters ) N‑COUNT If you refer to someone as a nutter , you mean that they are mad or that their behaviour is very strange. [BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ He was a bit of a nutter.
nut|ty /nʌ ti/ (nuttier , nuttiest )
1 ADJ If you describe food as nutty , you mean that it tastes of nuts, has the texture of nuts, or is made with nuts. □ …nutty butter cookies. □ Chick peas have a distinctive, delicious and nutty flavour.
2 ADJ If you describe someone as nutty , you mean that their behaviour is very strange or foolish. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ He looked like a nutty professor. □ That's a nutty idea.
nuz|zle /nʌ z ə l/ (nuzzles , nuzzling , nuzzled ) VERB If you nuzzle someone or something, you gently rub your nose and mouth against them to show affection. □ [V n] She nuzzled me and I cuddled her. □ [V adv/prep] The dog came and nuzzled up against me.