grape

American  

[greyp] / greɪp /

noun

1. the edible, pulpy, smooth-skinned berry or fruit that grows in clusters on vines of the genus Vitis, and from which wine is made.

2. any vine bearing this fruit.

3. a dull, dark, purplish-red color.

4. (used with a singular verb) grapes,

   1. tuberculosis occurring in cattle, characterized by the internal formation of grapelike clusters, especially in the lungs.

   2. tuberculosis occurring in horses, characterized by grapelike clusters on the fetlocks.

5. grapeshot.

6. the grape, wine.

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grape British  

/ ɡreɪp /

noun

1. the fruit of the grapevine, which has a purple or green skin and sweet flesh: eaten raw, dried to make raisins, currants, or sultanas, or used for making wine

2. any of various plants that bear grapelike fruit, such as the Oregon grape

3. See grapevine

4. an informal term for wine

5. See grapeshot

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grape Idioms  

1. see sour grapes.

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Other Word Forms

• grapeless adjective
• grapelike adjective

Etymology

Origin of grape

1200–50; Middle English < Old French, variant of crape cluster of fruit or flowers, originally hook (for pruning vines) < Germanic; compare German Krapf hook and grapple ( def. ), grapnel

Example Sentences

"We first looked at grapes but they didn't suit our soil type. Olives is something of an extreme choice but one we've gone for," he said.

From BBC

There’s a guitar that some people from a winery in Italy made for me out of the great big barrels they put grapes in.

From Los Angeles Times

Comparing agricultural and urban water costs, as the researchers did, she said, “is like comparing a grape to a watermelon,” given major differences in how water is distributed and treated.

From Los Angeles Times

There are tiny purple drops of what looks like grape juice all over the sweatshirt.

From Literature

If you round things out with a French baguette, grapes, dried apricots, olives, and a bowl of spicy walnuts or pecans, you’ve got an easy spread for 10–15 people.

From Salon