quince
Americannoun
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either of two small trees, Cydonia oblonga or C. sinensis, of the rose family, bearing hard, fragrant, yellowish fruit used chiefly for making jelly or preserves.
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the fruit of such a tree.
noun
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a small widely cultivated Asian rosaceous tree, Cydonia oblonga, with pinkish-white flowers and edible pear-shaped fruits
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the acid-tasting fruit of this tree, much used in preserves
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Also: Japanese or flowering quince. another name for japonica
Etymology
Origin of quince
1275–1325; Middle English quince, apparently originally plural (taken as singular) of quyne, coyn < Middle French cooin < Latin cotōneum, akin to cydōnium < Greek ( mêlon ) Kydṓnion quince, literally, (apple) of Cydonia
Explanation
A quince is a flowering tree whose fruit is also called quince. A quince looks a lot like a pear, although most varieties taste very sour. Quince trees are often grown ornamentally, rather than for their fruit — their soft, wide pink or white blossoms are beautiful, and many varieties smell just as lovely. The fruit of some quinces is sweet enough to be eaten raw, but most is harvested for jam or jelly, or added to other fruit in pies. Quince can also be fermented and made into wine and digestifs.
Vocabulary lists containing quince
Scrabble: Words that Begin with Q
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"The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet," Vocabulary from Act 4
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2015 National Spelling Bee Words
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When I made his Quince Marmalade, one of my favorites, I thought it could never work with its generous recommended amount of water.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025
For Ariella Santoyo, owner of My Quince World, the crackdown's snowballing effect on a billion-dollar immigrant economy is reminiscent of Covid and how the pandemic devastated the area.
From Barron's • Oct. 13, 2025
Finally, they discuss The Cut’s deep dive into the brand Quince and what makes the “one stop dupe shop” so popular.
From Slate • Feb. 22, 2025
For everyday outfits, I rely on staples from Boden, Madewell, Quince and Theory.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 8, 2024
Color me surprised when she asked for a similar bracelet for her Quince.
From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
