The Almond Is Not a Nut
An almond is the edible seed of a fruit related to the peach. Botanists class it as a drupe, not a nut.
An almond is the edible seed of the *Prunus dulcis* tree. Botanically it is not a nut at all: it is the stone of a drupe, a fleshy fruit in the same genus as peaches, plums and cherries. Split a peach stone and you will find something that looks strikingly like an almond, because it is the same structure.
- The edible seed. *A handful of almonds.*
- The tree. *Almond blossom.*
- Almond-shaped. *Almond eyes.*
- The colour. *Almond paint.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | almond | Ground almonds. |
| Plural | almonds | Salted almonds. |
| Adjective | almond | Almond milk. |
| Related | marzipan | Almond marzipan. |
| Related | amaretto | A glass of amaretto. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Almond blossom appears before the leaves.An early sign of spring in the Mediterranean.
- Marzipan is almonds and sugar.Confectionery.
- The L in almond is often silent.AH-mund is the usual pronunciation.
Foods that are not nuts
- Almond — the stone of a drupe
- Cashew — a seed growing outside its fruit
- Peanut — a legume, related to peas
- Pistachio — also a drupe seed
- Coconut — a drupe, despite the name
From Old French *almande*, from Latin *amygdala*, from Greek *amygdale*. The brain's *amygdala* is named for its almond shape.
Is the L silent?
Usually yes. AH-mund is standard, though some speakers sound the L.
Why is the brain's amygdala named after it?
Because the structure is almond-shaped, and *amygdale* is Greek for almond.