nutshell

noun

nut·​shell ˈnət-ˌshel 

1

: the hard external covering in which the kernel of a nut is enclosed

2

: something of small size, amount, or scope

Phrases

in a nutshell

: in a very brief statement

Examples of nutshell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Musk's Bid Is a Fly in the Ointment for OpenAI In a nutshell, Altman is the golden boy of the AI Revolution but Musk has massive power in the Beltway and this chain of events is likely just the start of a bigger soap opera poised to play out between Musk and Altman. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025

In a nutshell, OFDMA divides channels into resource units (RUs), allowing for smaller data packets that can be transmitted to multiple users simultaneously. —PCMAG, 11 Feb. 2025

In a nutshell, Queen Cassiopeia’s vanity was only eclipsed by the wrath of Greek gods, namely Hera, the queen of the gods, and Poseidon, the god of the sea. —Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 9 Feb. 2025

In a nutshell, the technique involves using machinery to quickly and automatically fold ordinary non-corrugated cardboard into a three-dimensional zigzagging Miura-ori pattern. —New Atlas, 6 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

nutshell

noun

nut·​shell ˈnət-ˌshel 

: the shell of a nut