grapefruit

American  

[greyp-froot] / ˈgreɪpˌfrut /

noun

1. a large, roundish, yellow-skinned, edible citrus fruit having a juicy, acid pulp.

2. the tropical or semitropical tree, Citrus paradisi, yielding this fruit.

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grapefruit British  

/ ˈɡreɪpˌfruːt /

noun

1. a tropical or subtropical cultivated evergreen rutaceous tree, Citrus paradisi

2. the large round edible fruit of this tree, which has yellow rind and juicy slightly bitter pulp

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Etymology

Origin of grapefruit

1805–15; grape + fruit, apparently from the resemblance of its clusters to those of grapes

Example Sentences

Lemon is classic; lime sharpens; grapefruit feels slightly adult; orange reads Sunday morning.

From Salon

Citrus lingers — oranges, grapefruit, tangerines — holding onto the last of their brightness like a lantern carried through fog.

From Salon

And fruits, which range from varieties of pear to bright citruses like orange and grapefruit.

From Salon

Curled up, the dragon was no bigger than a medium-sized grapefruit, and about as threatening.

From Literature

Minna smiled at me as she speared a section of grapefruit.

From Literature