A coconut is a large, fibrous-husked fruit from the coconut palm, characterized by a hard inner shell, white edible “meat” (endosperm), and sweet, clear “coconut water” inside. While commonly thought of as a nut, it’s botanically a drupe, similar to a peach. Coconuts are a staple of tropical regions, used fresh, dried into oil, or processed into milk and cream, with all parts of the palm plant having various uses.