wing-nut n 1: any tree of the genus Pterocarya; fruit is a small winged nutlet; Caucasus to southeastern Asia [syn: {wing nut}, {wing-nut}] 2: a threaded nut with winglike projections for thumb and forefinger leverage in turning [syn: {wing nut}, {wing-nut}, {wing screw}, {butterfly nut}, {thumbnut}]