- the shell around the kernel of a nut
- in a nutshell ⇒ in essence; briefly
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
nut•shell /ˈnʌtˌʃɛl/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- the shell of a nut.
- Idioms in a nutshell, briefly;
in a few words:That, in a nutshell, is our story.
nut•shell
(nut′shel′),USA pronunciation n.
- the shell of a nut.
- Idioms in a nutshell, in very brief form;
in a few words:Just tell me the story in a nutshell.
- 1175–1225; Middle English nutescell; see nut, shell
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
nutshell /ˈnʌtˌʃɛl/ n
'nutshell' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):