earthnut n any of various highly prized edible subterranean fungi of the genus Tuber; grow naturally in southwestern Europe n a common European plant having edible tubers with the flavor of roasted chestnuts n pod of the peanut vine containing usually 2 nuts or seeds; `groundnut' and `monkey nut' are British terms n edible subterranean fungus of the genus Tuber Synonym(s) truffle earth-ball Conopodium denudatum peanut goober goober pea groundnut monkey nut