almond Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun small bushy deciduous tree native to Asia and North Africa having pretty pink blossoms and highly prized edible nuts enclosed in a hard green hull; cultivated in southern Australia and California
    Amygdalus communis; Prunus dulcis; sweet almond; Prunus amygdalus.
  2. noun oval-shaped edible seed of the almond tree

WordNet


Alm"ond noun
Etymology
OE. almande, almaunde, alemaunde, F. amande, L. amygdala, fr. Gr. : cf. Sp. almendra. Cf. Amygdalate.
Definitions
  1. The fruit of the almond tree. ✍ The different kinds, as bitter, sweet, thin-shelled, thick-shelled almonds, and Jordan almonds, are the products of different varieties of the one species, Amygdalus communis, a native of the Mediterranean region and western Asia.
  2. The tree bears the fruit; almond tree.
  3. Anything shaped like an almond. Specifically: (Anat.) One of the tonsils.

Webster 1913