noun
coconut
KOH-kuh-nuht
noun
1
The large seed of the coconut palm, with a hard brown husk, white flesh, and clear liquid inside.
"He hacked open the coconut with a machete and drank the water inside."
"The recipe called for shredded coconut on top."
How to Use Coconut
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe large, hard-shelled tropical fruit with white flesh and coconut water inside.
Common mistake
Also used as an offensive slur implying someone has abandoned their own ethnic culture ("brown/black outside, white inside") — this sense is derogatory and should be avoided.
Common pairings
coconut water
coconut milk
a coconut palm
shredded coconut
Word Forms
coconuts plural
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Etymology
From "coco" (Portuguese/Spanish for "grinning face," describing the shell's three eye-like holes) plus "nut."