plum

¹

[pluhm]

noun

1. the drupaceous fruit of any of several trees belonging to the genus Prunus, of the rose family, having an oblong stone.

2. the tree itself.

3. any of various other trees bearing a plumlike fruit.

4. the fruit itself.

5. a sugarplum.

6. a raisin, as in a cake or pudding.

7. a deep purple varying from bluish to reddish.

8. Informal.,  an excellent or desirable thing, as a fine position.

   The choicest plums went to his old cronies.

9. Informal.,  an unanticipated large increase in money or property, as an unexpected legacy; a windfall.

   The company offered bonuses and other plums.

10. Also called displacer. a large stone used in massive concrete construction.

adjective

plummer, plummest 

1. extremely desirable, rewarding, profitable, or the like.

   a plum job in the foreign service.

Plum

²

[pluhm]

noun

1. a city in SW Pennsylvania.

plum

¹

/ plʌm /

noun

1. a small rosaceous tree, Prunus domestica, with white flowers and an edible oval fruit that is purple, yellow, or green and contains an oval stone See also greengage damson

2. the fruit of this tree

3. a raisin, as used in a cake or pudding

4. 1. a dark reddish-purple colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      a plum carpet

5. informal

   1. something of a superior or desirable kind, such as a financial bonus

   2. ( as modifier )

      a plum job

plum

²

/ plʌm /

adjective

1. a variant spelling of plumb plumb plumb plumb

Other Word Forms

• plumlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of plum¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English plūme (cognate with German Pflaume ) ≪ Greek proûmnon plum, proúmnē plum tree; prune ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of plum¹

Old English plūme; related to Latin prunum, German Pflaume

Example Sentences

The research team measured the amount of ethanol, or pure alcohol, in fruits such as figs and plums eaten in large quantities by wild chimps in Côte d'Ivoire and Uganda.

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But it is due to one of his former connections that he has now lost this plum diplomatic role.

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United, who have no European competition for the first time in 11 seasons, were the final club drawn - and delivered a plum tie for David Artell's side.

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For dessert, there was a plum pudding with a five-cent coin hidden amongst the dried fruit – a nod to the British tradition.

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Oasis split up after a backstage altercation that began with Liam throwing a plum at his older brother's head.

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Related Words

• carrot 
• cream