chestnut
chestnut — adjective
- chestnutpositive
- more chestnutcomparative
- most chestnutsuperlative
1. having a warm brown colour with red or golden tones in it, like the shell of a c
having a warm brown colour with red or golden tones in it, like the shell of a chestnut nut.
Grace chose a chestnut leather sofa for her new living room.
chestnut + leather / fabric / hair
The chestnut coat of the mare shone under the morning sunlight.
Wei painted the wooden fence a warm chestnut colour that matched the earth tones of the garden.
Fatima brushed her long chestnut hair until it gleamed softly in the lamplight.
- auburn
used specifically for hair, with stronger red tones than chestnut
- russet
duller, more brownish-red; often describes autumn leaves or fabrics
- reddish-brown
literal description rather than a named colour; less vivid
用法筆記
Most commonly used to describe hair, animal coats, leather, and wood finishes.
常見錯誤
chestnut — noun
- chestnutsingular
- chestnutsplural
1. a tall tree belonging to the Castanea group that produces round, edible nuts ins
a tall tree belonging to the Castanea group that produces round, edible nuts inside a hard, spiky shell.
The old chestnut tree in Miguel's backyard drops hundreds of nuts every autumn.
chestnut tree for the tree itself
Rosa planted a row of young chestnut trees along the eastern edge of her farm.
A mature chestnut can grow to more than thirty metres tall.
The chestnut trees in the city park turn golden-brown every October before losing their leaves.
- sweet chestnut
the common name for the edible chestnut tree, Castanea sativa
- Castanea
the scientific genus name; too technical for everyday use
用法筆記
Do not confuse with the horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), which produces inedible nuts. The edible chestnut tree belongs to the genus Castanea.
常見錯誤
2. the large, shiny, brown nut that grows on a chestnut tree and is eaten after bei
the large, shiny, brown nut that grows on a chestnut tree and is eaten after being roasted or cooked.
Elena roasted a pan of fresh chestnuts over the open fire on a cold winter evening.
roasted chestnuts — common preparation method
Tariq bought a paper bag of hot roasted chestnuts from a street vendor in the market.
Jing added chopped chestnuts to the stuffing for the family's Thanksgiving turkey.
Priya peeled the hot chestnut carefully and popped the soft kernel into her mouth.
用法筆記
Chestnuts are sweeter and starchier than most other nuts. They must be cooked before eating and are commonly sold roasted from street stalls in winter.
常見錯誤
3. a horse whose coat is a solid, reddish-brown colour, without black patches or po
a horse whose coat is a solid, reddish-brown colour, without black patches or points on the legs, mane, and tail.
Hassan rode his chestnut along the forest trail every Saturday morning.
chestnut as a noun for a horse of this colour
The chestnut won first place in the jumping competition at the county fair.
Sana brushed her chestnut's mane until every tangle was gone before the show.
Davide's chestnut galloped across the field, its red-brown coat gleaming in the afternoon light.
用法筆記
In equestrian terminology, a chestnut horse has a red-brown body coat with a mane and tail that match or are slightly lighter. This distinguishes it from a 'bay' (black points) or 'sorrel' (lighter red, no black).
常見錯誤
4. a warm brown colour with noticeable red or golden tones, similar to the shell of
a warm brown colour with noticeable red or golden tones, similar to the shell of a chestnut nut.
The living room walls were painted in a rich chestnut that felt warm and inviting.
a rich chestnut — used as an uncountable colour noun
Noor chose a chestnut scarf to bring out the warm tones in her jacket.
The old photograph had faded to a soft chestnut shade that reminded Zara of the past.
Olu decorated the bedroom in a mix of chestnut and cream for a cosy feel.
用法筆記
As a colour name, chestnut sits between brown and auburn on the colour spectrum. It is used for paint, fabrics, hair, and interior design.
5. a joke, story, or remark that has been repeated so many times that it is no long
a joke, story, or remark that has been repeated so many times that it is no longer amusing or interesting.
Usha groaned when her uncle began telling that old chestnut about the talking parrot.
old chestnut — fixed phrase for an overused joke
Quinn's presentation was full of tired chestnuts borrowed from motivational Internet videos.
Amir laughed politely at the chestnut even though he had heard it at least a dozen times before.
Valter claims every chestnut he tells is original, but his coworkers have heard all of them.
- cliché
broader in scope — refers to any overused expression or idea, not just jokes
- platitude
a dull, obvious remark; more formal and less humorous than chestnut
- bromide
a boring, unoriginal saying intended to soothe; quite formal and dated
- old saw
a proverb or maxim that has been repeated often; similar tone to chestnut
用法筆記
Always preceded by 'old' in the fixed expression 'old chestnut'. Used informally to dismiss a familiar or predictable story. Not appropriate in formal writing.
常見錯誤
6. the hard, durable timber obtained from a chestnut tree, valued for furniture-mak
the hard, durable timber obtained from a chestnut tree, valued for furniture-making, fencing, and building because of its resistance to rot.
The dining table was made from solid chestnut that had been polished to a warm glow.
solid chestnut — emphasis on the material
Ingrid polished the antique chestnut cabinet until the grain showed clearly.
The carpenter said chestnut was the best choice for outdoor benches because it resists decay.
The old barn was held up by thick chestnut beams that had lasted more than a hundred years.
用法筆記
Chestnut wood is lightweight yet strong and naturally resistant to rot, which made it a traditional material for fence posts, railway sleepers, and roof beams. American chestnut was nearly wiped out by blight, so genuine old-growth chestnut is now rare.