packing peanut
nounUK /ˈpæk.ɪŋ ˌpiː.nʌt/
US /ˈpæk.ɪŋ ˌpiː.nʌt/
A packing peanut is a small, light piece of foam used to keep things safe in a box.
She opened the box and found her new mug buried in packing peanuts.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A peanut-shaped piece of biodegradable material used as loose fill.
The shop switched to starch-based packing peanuts that dissolve in water.
3. A small edible peanut used as a snack or ingredient.
He grabbed a handful of packing peanuts from the jar.
4. A person or thing used to fill space or absorb shock in a system.
The extra staff acted as packing peanuts during the busy season.