peanut Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun underground pod of the peanut vine
  2. noun widely cultivated American plant cultivated in tropical and warm regions; showy yellow flowers on stalks that bend over to the soil so that seed pods ripen underground
    Arachis hypogaea; peanut vine.
  3. noun a young child who is small for his age
  4. noun pod of the peanut vine containing usually 2 nuts or seeds; `groundnut' and `monkey nut' are British terms
    goober; monkey nut; earthnut; groundnut; goober pea.
  5. adjective satellite of little importance or influence or power; of minor status
    insignificant.
    • a minor, insignificant bureaucrat
    • peanut politicians

WordNet

Pea"nut noun
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) The fruit of a trailing leguminous plant (Arachis hypogæa); also, the plant itself, which is widely cultivated for its fruit. ✍ The fruit is a hard pod, usually containing two or three seeds, sometimes but one, which ripen beneath the soil. Called also earthnut, groundnut, and goober.

Webster 1913