A nutcracker is a tool designed to crack open the hard shells of nuts like walnuts, pecans, or hazelnuts so you can eat the nut inside. The most common type works like a pair of pliers: you place the nut between two metal arms and squeeze the handles together until the shell cracks. Some nutcrackers are simple and practical, while others are decorative, carved into shapes like soldiers or animals.

The word also refers to a famous ballet called The Nutcracker, with music by Tchaikovsky. In this holiday story, a girl named Clara receives a wooden nutcracker doll shaped like a soldier. On Christmas Eve, the nutcracker comes to life and battles the Mouse King, then takes Clara on a magical journey to the Land of Sweets. Many families attend performances of The Nutcracker during the winter holidays, making it one of the most popular ballets in the world. The ballet's music is so well-known that you've probably heard pieces like the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” even if you've never seen the show.