acorn

[ ey-kawrn, ey-kern ]

noun

1. the typically ovoid fruit or nut of an oak, enclosed at the base by a cupule.
2. a finial or knop, as on a piece of furniture, in the form of an acorn.

acorn

/ ˈeɪkɔːn /

noun

1. the fruit of an oak tree, consisting of a smooth thick-walled nut in a woody scaly cuplike base

Other Words From

• a·corned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of acorn¹

before 1000; Middle English acorne (influenced by corn ¹ ), replacing akern, Old English æcern, æcren mast, oak-mast; cognate with Old Norse akarn fruit of wild trees, Middle High German ackeran acorn, Gothic akran fruit, yield < Germanic *akrana-; alleged derivation from base of acre is dubious if original reference was to wild trees

Word History and Origins

Origin of acorn¹

C16: a variant (through influence of corn ) of Old English æcern the fruit of a tree, acorn; related to Gothic akran fruit, yield

Example Sentences

Speaking of sides and accompaniments, you need some color: A sheet pan overflowing with a mix of vegetables like acorn squash, sweet potatoes, broccoli/broccolini, Brussel sprouts or anything else that looks good is always beautiful.

From Salon

However, if the city is successful in planting more trees to help combat extreme heat, it could have the added benefit of hosting more birds such as acorn woodpeckers and California scrub jays.

From Los Angeles Times

This is before we watch her make the cheese, bake the bread and whip up the butter from fresh cream, along with preparing an acorn squash and sweet potato soup and roasting some fish.

From Salon

Acorn Lodge's owners Oldham Property Investments previously said funding was not rising in line with costs and they believed it was the best option to close the home - which had 68 residents - before it started to struggle financially.

From BBC

In another incident six months ago, an Okaloosa County deputy reacted to the sound of a falling acorn hitting his patrol vehicle by firing multiple rounds at the vehicle, where a handcuffed Black man sat inside.

From Seattle Times