blackberry

¹ American  

[blak-ber-ee, -buh-ree] / ˈblækˌbɛr i, -bə ri /

noun

plural

blackberries

1. the fruit, black or very dark purple when ripe, of certain species of the genus Rubus.

2. the plant itself.

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BlackBerry ² American  

[blak-ber-ee, -buh-ree] / ˈblækˌbɛr i, -bə ri /

Trademark.

1. a brand of smartphone optimized for wireless email.

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blackberry ¹ British  

/ ˈblækbərɪ /

noun

1. Also called: bramble.  any of several woody plants of the rosaceous genus Rubus , esp R. fruticosus , that have thorny stems and black or purple glossy edible berry-like fruits (drupelets)

2. 1. the fruit of any of these plants

   2. ( as modifier )

      blackberry jam

3. an ornamental Chinese iridaceous plant, Belamcanda chinensis , that has red-spotted orange flowers and clusters of black seeds that resemble blackberries

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verb

1. (intr) to gather blackberries

BlackBerry ² British  

noun

1. a hand-held device for sending and receiving e-mail

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Other Word Forms

• blackberrylike adjective

Etymology

Origin of blackberry

before 1000; Middle English blakeberie, Old English blaceberie. See black, berry

Example Sentences

“I cured his stomachache with a blackberry root, but he forgot that.”

From Literature

The grocery store offers blackberries in January, cherries in October, tomatoes that arrive with the bland composure of year-round availability.

From Salon

The three cups contained dried blackberries, huckleberries, and raspberries, all separately soaking in warm water.

From Literature

I even left him a coded invitation to my new home: a blackberry wrapped in a cloth.

From Literature

There were wild blackberries and raspberries blanketing the hillsides, and vestiges of old fruit orchards.

From The Wall Street Journal