cherry

¹

[ cher-ee ]

noun

, plural cher·ries.

1. 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.
2. the tree bearing such a fruit.
3. the wood of such a tree.
4. any of various fruits or plants resembling the cherry.
5. bright red; cerise.
6. Slang: Often Vulgar.
   1. the hymen.
   2. the state of virginity.
7. Slang.
   1. something new or unused.
   2. a novice.
8. Underworld Slang. a first offender.
9. Bowling. the striking down of only the forward pin or pins in attempting to make a spare.

adjective

1. bright-red; cerise.
2. (of food and beverages) made with or containing cherries or cherrylike flavoring:

   cherry pie; cherry soda.

3. (of furniture, woodwork, etc.) made of or covered or decorated with wood from the cherry tree.
4. Slang: Often Vulgar. being a virgin.
5. Slang.
   1. new or unused:

      a three-year-old car in cherry condition.

   2. inexperienced; being an innocent novice.

Cherry

²

[ cher-ee ]

noun

1. Donald Eugene Don, 1936–95, U.S. jazz trumpeter.

cherry

/ ˈtʃɛrɪ /

noun

1. 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
2. the fruit or wood of any of these trees
3. any of various unrelated plants, such as the ground cherry and Jerusalem cherry
4. 1. a bright red colour; cerise
   2. ( as adjective )

      a cherry coat

5. slang.
   virginity or the hymen as its symbol
6. modifier of or relating to the cherry fruit or wood

   cherry tart

Derived Forms

• ˈcherry-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• cherry·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cherry¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of cherry¹

C14: back formation from Old English ciris (mistakenly thought to be plural), ultimately from Late Latin ceresia, perhaps from Latin cerasus cherry tree, from Greek kerasios

Example Sentences

Add a few dried cherries to the mix of fruits if you feel so inclined.

From Salon

A half hour later, a teenager in a snow-dusted snowsuit pulled up to our building on a cherry red Honda Metropolitan, paper bag steaming with promise.

From Salon

That’s another benefit of having created so much art — knowing that going viral is the cherry on top of the experiences and the world that I’ve already created.

From Los Angeles Times

Rihab’s uncle placed two sprigs of artificial cherry blossom atop the grave, for the two girls, and later someone else laid a wreath for a stranger buried beside them.

From BBC

The skin of an apple, a cherry, a tomato: all different ways of twisting light into hues of red.

From Salon

Related Words

• chaste
• pure
• untouched
• virginal
• virtuous