The fruit of the almond tree; an ovate, compressed nut, perforated in the pores. It is either sweet or bitter.

The tonsils, two glands near the basis of the tongue, are called almonds, from their resemblance to that nut; vulgularly, but improperly, called the almonds of the ears, as they belong to the throat.

In Portugal, a measure by which wine is sold, twenty-six of which make a pipe.

Among lapidaries, almonds signify pieces of rock crystal, used in adorning branch candlesticks, so called from their resemblance to this fruit.