apricot

American  

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

noun

apricots plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• apricots
  plural

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

See Examples For:

apricot apricots

"Its taste and aroma are royal. The apricot is a wonder of wonders."

From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026

Unassuming from the outside, the shop opens into a huge ark of mortar-crusted brick and ribcage-like beams, with long dining tables displaying shapely vases, pitchers, teacups and plates in shades of apricot, amber and malachite.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 17, 2026

But the King seemed to enjoy some of the less usual beers on offer, including one with an apricot flavour.

From BBC ● Dec. 18, 2025

Imagine combining fresh apricot, apricot jam and dried apricots all in one dish for a sophisticated play on the same ingredient.

From Salon ● Mar. 19, 2025

The nightdress was inside the case, thin as gossamer, apricot in colour.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

"That may not seem like much, but it changes everything. The major retailers weren't ready and are still selling Spanish apricots when they should have switched over to French ones," he said.

From Barron's ● May 26, 2026

Coronation chicken sandwiches are made with dried apricots or sultanas, too.

From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2025

Imagine combining fresh apricot, apricot jam and dried apricots all in one dish for a sophisticated play on the same ingredient.

From Salon ● Mar. 19, 2025

But for long, long decades before, Santa Clara County was “the Valley of Heart’s Delight,” a bee-and-blossom Eden of fragrant fruit: cherries, apricots, and mostly plums for prunes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2024

“I heard your brother was sick,” Laila said to Tariq’s father, dipping a spoon into her bowl of soaked raisins, pistachios, and apricots.

From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini