the fruit of any of various trees belonging to the genus Prunus, of the rose family, consisting of a pulpy, globular drupe enclosing a one-seeded smooth stone.
the tree bearing such a fruit.
the wood of such a tree.
any of various fruits or plants resembling the cherry.
bright red; cerise.
Slang: Often Vulgar.
the hymen.
the state of virginity.
Slang.
something new or unused.
a novice.
Underworld Slang. a first offender.
Bowling. the striking down of only the forward pin or pins in attempting to make a spare.
bright-red; cerise.
(of food and beverages) made with or containing cherries or cherrylike flavoring.
cherry pie; cherry soda.
(of furniture, woodwork, etc.) made of or covered or decorated with wood from the cherry tree.
Slang: Often Vulgar. being a virgin.
Slang.
new or unused.
a three-year-old car in cherry condition.
inexperienced; being an innocent novice.
any of several trees of the rosaceous genus Prunus, such as P. avium ( sweet cherry ), having a small fleshy rounded fruit containing a hard stone See also bird cherry
the fruit or wood of any of these trees
any of various unrelated plants, such as the ground cherry and Jerusalem cherry
a bright red colour; cerise
( as adjective )
a cherry coat
slang virginity or the hymen as its symbol
(modifier) of or relating to the cherry fruit or wood
cherry tart
1300–50; Middle English cheri variant of chirie, back formation from Old English ciris- (taken for plural) ≪ Vulgar Latin *ceresium for *cerasium ( Latin cerasum ) < Greek kerásion cherry
A cherry is a beautiful flowering tree, and it's also the name of the small, red fruit that grows on it. If you learn to bake a perfect cherry pie, you will become a legend among your dessert-loving friends. Ripe cherries are deep red and exquisitely sweet, with small inedible pits. Cherry is an almost universally loved flavor, from cherry danishes and cherry lollipops to the cherry on top of a hot fudge sundae. Cherry is also used to describe a bright red color. The word itself comes from a Greek root, kerasos, which means "cherry tree," and also refers to a region of ancient Greece historians believe first exported cherries to Europe.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He and his wife, Maxi Case, have 3,600 cherry trees on 25 acres at Villa del Sol, which their website says is the largest U-pick cherry orchard in Southern California.
From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026
There are a handful of other small cherry orchards in the valley.
From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026
The fact the men had done it from an untaxed vehicle was also "the cherry on the top" of what had been a traumatic experience, she added.
From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026
The Pentagon blasted as cherry picking and false a news report saying that the department assessed it could take six months to completely clear the Strait of Hormuz of Iranian-laid mines.
From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026
And then he adds, “She wouldn’t leave her dogs,” which is the perfect cherry on his story.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
