Almond


the nutlike kernel of the fruit of either of two trees, Prunus dulcis (sweet almond) or P. dulcis amara (bitter almond) which grow in warm temperate regions.
the tree itself.
a delicate, pale tan.
anything shaped like an almond, especially an ornament.
of the color, taste, or shape of an almond.
made or flavored with almonds:
almond cookies.
Contemporary Examples

The inclusion of the cherry pits infuses the dessert with an almond flavor.
What to Eat Cookstr.com July 6, 2009

The surprise really came—wrong word, perhaps—with the almond milk.
New York’s Naughtiest Show (Maybe Avoid the Front Row) Tim Teeman January 17, 2014

Banana ice cream, frozen chocolate mousse, a web of spun sugar, almond cake, chocolate crunches.
High-Concept Desserts from Star Chefs Jennie Yabroff January 14, 2011

Our parents both had almond eyes, almost Asian-looking, and yet our ancestry was Irish and German.
‘Tracing the Blue Light’: Read Chapter 1 of Eileen Cronin’s ‘Mermaid’ Eileen Cronin April 7, 2014

almond farms in California are especially reliant on bee pollination.
Declining bee populations may lead to significant agricultural losses in U.S. Miranda Green May 7, 2013

Historical Examples

The truth is that the candle in question is made out of a piece of apple, with a small peg cut from a nut or almond for a wick.
The Art of Amusing Frank Bellew

If the almond cream is too thin, mix in more pounded citron.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches Eliza Leslie

almond meal is sometimes used as an adulterant in ipecacuanha powder.
Cooley’s Practical Receipts, Volume II Arnold Cooley

I have corn and olive trees, I have almond trees and vines and land, like any bourgeois.
Doctor Pascal Emile Zola

Cut the turnips in pieces four times the size of an almond, and put to boil in salt water.
The Hotel St. Francis Cook Book Victor Hirtzler

noun
a small widely cultivated rosaceous tree, Prunus amygdalus, that is native to W Asia and has pink flowers and a green fruit containing an edible nutlike seed
the oval-shaped nutlike edible seed of this plant, which has a yellowish-brown shell
(modifier) made of or containing almonds: almond cake, related adjectives amygdaline amygdaloid

a pale yellowish-brown colour
(as adjective): almond wallpaper

Also called almond green

yellowish-green colour
(as adjective): an almond skirt

anything shaped like an almond nut
n.

c.1300, from Old French almande, amande, from Vulgar Latin *amendla, *amandula, from Latin amygdala (plural), from Greek amygdalos “an almond tree,” of unknown origin, perhaps a Semitic word. Altered in Medieval Latin by influence of amandus “loveable,” and acquiring in French an excrescent -l- perhaps from Spanish almendra “almond,” which got it via confusion with the Arabic definite article al-, which formed the beginnings of many Spanish words. Applied to eyes shaped like almonds, especially of certain Asiatic peoples, from 1870.

a native of Syria and Palestine. In form, blossoms, and fruit it resembles the peach tree. Its blossoms are of a very pale pink colour, and appear before its leaves. Its Hebrew name, _shaked_, signifying “wakeful, hastening,” is given to it on account of its putting forth its blossoms so early, generally in February, and sometimes even in January. In Eccl. 12:5, it is referred to as illustrative, probably, of the haste with which old age comes. There are others, however, who still contend for the old interpretation here. “The almond tree bears its blossoms in the midst of winter, on a naked, leafless stem, and these blossoms (reddish or flesh-coloured in the beginning) seem at the time of their fall exactly like white snow-flakes. In this way the almond blossom is a very fitting symbol of old age, with its silvery hair and its wintry, dry, barren, unfruitful condition.” In Jer. 1:11 “I see a rod of an almond tree [shaked]…for I will hasten [shaked] my word to perform it” the word is used as an emblem of promptitude. Jacob desired his sons (Gen. 43:11) to take with them into Egypt of the best fruits of the land, almonds, etc., as a present to Joseph, probably because this tree was not a native of Egypt. Aaron’s rod yielded almonds (Num. 17:8; Heb. 9:4). Moses was directed to make certain parts of the candlestick for the ark of carved work “like unto almonds” (Ex. 25:33, 34). The Hebrew word _luz_, translated “hazel” in the Authorized Version (Gen. 30:37), is rendered in the Revised Version “almond.” It is probable that _luz_ denotes the wild almond, while _shaked_ denotes the cultivated variety.

Read Also:

  • Almond cake

    the residue of almonds from which oil has been expressed. Contemporary Examples Banana ice cream, frozen chocolate mousse, a web of spun sugar, almond cake, chocolate crunches. High-Concept Desserts from Star Chefs Jennie Yabroff January 14, 2011 Historical Examples I enclose ten shillings, and will send you the almond cake and potted lobster you ask […]

  • Almond meal

    the meal obtained by pulverizing blanched almonds, used chiefly in the manufacture of perfume and cosmetics. Historical Examples almond meal is sometimes used as an adulterant in ipecacuanha powder. Cooley’s Practical Receipts, Volume II Arnold Cooley Beat eggs stiff, add sugar, and beat very stiff; add lemon rind grated; mix and add flour and almond […]

  • Almond-eyed

    having long or narrow, oval-shaped eyes. Historical Examples A few squares of straw matting make a bath-house, and a big stone jar is the tub of comfort for the almond-eyed campaigner. The North Pacific Willis Boyd Allen There were seven in the party, including a heathen from the flowery kingdom, almond-eyed—Ah Yang. Fishing With The […]

  • Almond milk

    a creamy mixture of blanched almonds, sugar, and water, blended to a smooth paste and sieved. Contemporary Examples The surprise really came—wrong word, perhaps—with the almond milk. New York’s Naughtiest Show (Maybe Avoid the Front Row) Tim Teeman January 17, 2014 You can choose whatever base you want, but I usually go with two cups […]

  • Almond oil

    Also called sweet almond oil, expressed almond oil. a colorless to pale yellow fatty oil expressed from the seeds of the sweet almond, used in preparing perfumes and confections. Also called bitter almond oil. a colorless to yellow, poisonous oil obtained by steam distillation from the almond meal of bitter almond seeds: used chiefly in […]


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