almond

noun

al·​mond ˈä-mənd How to pronounce almond (audio) ˈa- How to pronounce almond (audio) ˈäl- How to pronounce almond (audio)
ˈal-
1
a
: the drupaceous fruit of a small tree (Prunus dulcis synonym P. amygdalus) of the rose family with flowers and young fruit resembling those of the peach
especially : its ellipsoidal edible kernel used as a nut
b
: any of several similar fruits
2
: a tree that produces almonds

Illustration of almond

Illustration of almond
  • almond 1a

Did you know?

This nut is seed of a tree in the rose family, native to Southwest Asia. The tree grows somewhat larger and lives longer than the peach. It is strikingly beautiful when in flower. The nuts are either sweet or bitter. Sweet almonds are the edible type consumed as nuts and used in cooking. The extracted oil of bitter almonds is used to make flavoring extracts for foods and liqueurs. Almonds provide small amounts of protein, iron, calcium, phosphorus, and B vitamins, and are high in fat.

Examples of almond in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Guests are scrubbed down with thermal salt from Sárvár, slicked with lavender and almond oil, packed with a mud mask from Lake Hévíz that draws out impurities, and enveloped in a shimmering wrap that conjures discos, all while the therapist performs a vigorous Hungarian face and body massage. Alia Akkam, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2024 Well, this fixes all that—with crunchy clusters of oats, almonds, chia seeds, and quinoa, Purely Elizabeth’s works hard and tastes good doing it. Grace McCarty, SELF, 13 Mar. 2024 Harsh weather and rising costs have hurt almond and other crop growers, spilling into other parts of the economy, especially in the Central Valley. Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Tea tree oil brings antibacterial and antifungal properties, and sweet almond oil has conditioning benefits. Macaela MacKenzie, Glamour, 27 Feb. 2024 Aromas of lavender and beeswax give way to flavors of apricot and almond with a touch of sea spray set into a wine with an alluringly soft texture. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 20 Feb. 2024 In the case of almond and all-purpose flours, these are two fundamentally different ingredients — nuts and wheat. Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2024 Infused with rose wax and almond oil to give your skin a soft and supple feel, the microfine powder nanoparticles add a blurring effect to leave your base looking smoother. Clare Holden, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2024 That last step brings a deep richness to the palate with notes of fig, almond, chocolate, and some buttery caramel. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'almond.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English almande, from Anglo-French alemande from Late Latin amandula, alteration of Latin amygdala, from Greek amygdalē

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of almond was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near almond

Cite this Entry

“Almond.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/almond. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

almond

noun
al·​mond ˈäm-ənd How to pronounce almond (audio) ˈam- How to pronounce almond (audio)
ˈäl-mənd,
ˈal-
: a small tree related to the roses and having flowers like those of a peach tree
also : the edible kernel of its fruit used as a nut

Medical Definition

almond

noun
1
: a small tree (Prunus amygdalus) of the rose family with flowers and young fruit resembling those of the peach
2
: the drupaceous fruit of the almond
especially : its ellipsoidal edible kernel used as a nut compare amygdalin

More from Merriam-Webster on almond

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