apricot

American  

[ap-ri-kot, ey-pri-] / ˈæp rɪˌkɒt, ˈeɪ prɪ- /

noun

1. the downy, yellow, sometimes rosy fruit, somewhat resembling a small peach, of the tree Prunus armeniaca.

2. the tree itself.

3. a pinkish yellow or yellowish pink.

4. Also called wild apricot.  Chiefly South Midland U.S. the maypop vine and its fruit; passionfruit.

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apricot British  

/ ˈeɪprɪˌkɒt /

noun

1. a rosaceous tree, Prunus armeniaca, native to Africa and W Asia, but widely cultivated for its edible fruit

2. the downy yellow juicy edible fruit of this tree, which resembles a small peach

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Etymology

Origin of apricot

1545–55; < Middle French abricot < Portuguese albricoque or Spanish albar ( i ) coque < Arabic al the + barqūq < Medieval Greek < Late Latin praecocquum, for Latin ( persicum ) praecox literally, early-ripening peach, perhaps referring to the apricot ( see peach ¹, precocious); replacing earlier abrecock < Portuguese or Spanish; later p for Middle French b perhaps < Latin praecox

Explanation

An apricot is a small, yellowish-orange fruit with a hard pit. Slightly less juicy than the similar peach, apricots are a little bit tart. The fact that apricots aren't quite as juicy as some other stone fruits makes them perfect for drying — and dried apricots are chewy and sweet. The word apricot is derived from the Arabic al-barqūq, "the plums," and these two fruits are very closely related. As a color, apricot also describes a slightly rosy shade of yellow that borders on orange.

Example Sentences

I think this Apricot Tortoni is the perfect crossover dessert for late summer and early fall and a nice departure from the many lemon and berry variations I crave throughout June and July.

From Salon • Aug. 24, 2023

Single Early varieties include Apricot Beauty, salmon blooms gently flamed rose; Couleur Cardinal, scarlet red flamed purple; and Prinses Irene, a soft orange with pink-purple flames.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 11, 2021

“It feels like every day is a weekend,” said Simone Tong, the chef of Silver Apricot, in the West Village.

From New York Times • Aug. 7, 2021

When he moved away, Charles and I adopted two cats from the humane society—Mochi and Apricot.

From Slate • Jul. 8, 2021

Mr. Richard Crashaw secured for his county the Arab sire of Cymro Llwd; and in Merioneithshire, the half-Arab, Apricot, of multiple progeny, became an imperishable tradition.

From The Welsh Pony Described in two letters to a friend by Dargan, Olive Tilford