What is a fruit?
From the botanist perspective, a fruit is the mature ovary of a plant--it is the portion of the plant that is part of its reproductive structure. So apples, berries, peaches, peppers, tomatoes and nuts are all fruits - to a botanist. Growers, on the other hand, tend to view crops grown perennially as fruits.  The U.S. Supreme Court decided that fruits either garnish or conclude a meal.

What is a vegetable?
To a botanist a vegetable is any edible portion of the plant that is not part of its reproductive system. So to the botanist asparagus, broccoli, cabbage and spinach are all vegetables. Growers view crops grown annually as vegetables. The U.S. Supreme Court decided that vegetables are plants foods served "in, with, or after" the soup, fish, or meat.

What is an herb?
An herb is a non-woody plant that dies back in winter. The plant typically will bloom, set seed and then die back to the ground. Herbs were originally used for medicines but now are widely used as seasonings in culinary dishes.

What is a nut?
A nut is a one-seeded fruit with a hard pericarp (ripened ovary wall) --a dry shell that needs to be cracked open to release the kernel. Nuts grow on trees. Peanuts are a legume, as they grow underground.