brazil nut: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to Informal. The primary use is literal. The extended informal meaning is rare.
Quick answer
What does “brazil nut” mean?
The large, hard-shelled, three-sided seed of the Brazilian tree Bertholletia excelsa, with a rich, creamy flavour.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The large, hard-shelled, three-sided seed of the Brazilian tree Bertholletia excelsa, with a rich, creamy flavour.
The tree (Bertholletia excelsa) that produces these seeds, native to Amazonian rainforests. Informally, it can refer to a difficult problem or a very tough object.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic difference. 'Brazil nut' is standard in both. Sometimes abbreviated informally to 'brazil' in UK contexts (e.g., 'a bag of brazils').
Connotations
Same core meaning. Both associate it with Christmas nut mixes, health foods, and South America.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties. Slightly higher frequency in UK around Christmas due to traditional nut selections.
Grammar
How to Use “brazil nut” in a Sentence
to eat [a/some] brazil nutsto add [chopped] brazil nuts to [something]to crack open a brazil nutVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “brazil nut” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The cake had a lovely brazil-nut crunch.
- It's a classic brazil-nut brownie.
American English
- The salad has a brazil-nut topping.
- She made brazil-nut butter.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In import/export, agriculture, or food retail contexts.
Academic
In botany, ecology, or nutritional science papers.
Everyday
In cooking, shopping, or discussing food and health.
Technical
In forestry, agronomy, or food science.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “brazil nut”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “brazil nut”
- Spelling: 'Brazil' with an 's' (Brasil) is the Portuguese spelling, not standard English. Using 'brazilian nut' is less common.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is standardly written as two words: 'brazil nut'. The hyphenated form 'brazil-nut' is used when it functions as a compound adjective (e.g., brazil-nut tree).
They are named after Brazil, the country from which they were first widely exported, though their natural range extends across several Amazonian nations.
Botanically, no. They are seeds from a large capsule fruit. In culinary and common language, they are classified as nuts due to their hard shell and nutritional profile.
Using a dedicated nutcracker is recommended. Due to their extreme hardness, striking them with a hammer is a common, though less controlled, method.
The large, hard-shelled, three-sided seed of the Brazilian tree Bertholletia excelsa, with a rich, creamy flavour.
Brazil nut is usually neutral to informal. the primary use is literal. the extended informal meaning is rare. in register.
Brazil nut: in British English it is pronounced /brəˌzɪl ˈnʌt/, and in American English it is pronounced /brəˌzɪl ˈnʌt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Hard/tough as a brazil nut (informal, rare)”
- “A tough nut to crack (more common idiom for a difficult problem)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BRAZIL' is the country, 'NUT' is what it is. The nut from Brazil.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOUNDNESS/HARDNESS (e.g., 'His head was like a brazil nut'). COMPLEXITY/DIFFICULTY (e.g., 'This puzzle is a real brazil nut').
Practice
Quiz
What is a primary ecological concern associated with brazil nuts?