raspberry

American  

[raz-ber-ee, -buh-ree, rahz-] / ˈræzˌbɛr i, -bə ri, ˈrɑz- /

noun

• raspberries
  plural

1. the fruit of any of several shrubs belonging to the genus Rubus, of the rose family, consisting of small and juicy red, black, or pale yellow drupelets forming a detachable cap about a convex receptacle.

2. any shrub bearing this fruit.

3. a dark reddish-purple color.

4. Informal.

   1. Bronx cheer.

   2. any sign or expression of dislike or derision.

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raspberry British  

/ ˈrɑːzbərɪ, -brɪ /

noun

1. any of the prickly shrubs of the rosaceous genus Rubus , such as R. strigosus of E North America and R. idaeus of Europe, that have pinkish-white flowers and typically red berry-like fruits (drupelets) See also bramble

2. 1. the fruit of any such plant

   2. ( as modifier )

      raspberry jelly

3. Popular name: blackcap.

   1. a related plant, Rubus occidentalis , of E North America, that has black berry-like fruits

   2. the fruit of this plant

4. 1. a dark purplish-red colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      a raspberry dress

5. a spluttering noise made with the tongue and lips to express contempt (esp in the phrase blow a raspberry )

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• raspberries
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of raspberry

1615–25; earlier rasp(is) raspberry (< ?) + berry; raspberry ( def. 4 ) by shortening of raspberry tart, rhyming slang for fart

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Explanation

A raspberry is a prickly shrub-like plant that grows small, sweet, red fruit also called raspberries. Look closely at a raspberry and you'll see it's made up of many tiny connected globes. Raspberries are a popular flavor in jam, pie, syrup, and many other delicious products. While they're often red, you can also find black raspberries and even pale, golden-colored raspberries. If someone gives you a raspberry, it doesn't necessarily mean a tiny piece of fruit — they may be making a rude sound in your direction, also known as a raspberry.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

raspberry raspberries

One TikToker documented how her carefully packed blocks melted by arrival, the chili-flavored butter leaking onto the strawberry and raspberry.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

Others hold at most a single raspberry and two tiny peanut butter sandwich crackers.

From Salon ● May 17, 2026

Plaid Cymru is represented by a mojito, the Conservatives by a raspberry daquiri, Reform by an espresso martini, the Greens by a pina colada, and the Lib Dems by an Irn-Bru vodka martini.

From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026

Bright yellow T-shirts reading, in raspberry type, “¡Bienvenido Gustavo!” marked Gustavo Dudamel’s first concert as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic the first Saturday afternoon of October 2009 at the Hollywood Bowl.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 19, 2026

Old Benedikt asked her as she leaned to strip the raspberry leaves from the thick thorned bushes where they grew.

From "Son" by Lois Lowry

Same with precut or packaged lettuce, fresh cilantro, fresh basil, raspberries, snow peas and green onions.

From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026

"I'm never buying raspberries in the store for the rest of my life, ever," Clare said.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

One of the largest cyclosporiasis outbreaks in North America was linked to imported raspberries from Guatemalan farms in 1996.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

Early in the outbreak, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued specific safety guidelines for raspberries, urging people to cook them or eat them frozen.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

When the children grew tired of swinging, they went down toward the pasture and picked wild raspberries and ate them.

From "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White

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