cherry

¹

[cher-ee]

noun

plural

cherries 

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

Other Word Forms

• cherrylike adjective
• cherry-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

Its bright red fruits, sometimes known as "desert cherries," have nourished and healed local communities for centuries.

Read more on Science Daily

It’s chocolatey and mildly fruity, touting notes of cherry in each cup.

Read more on Salon

I’ll load a basket with waxy yellow potatoes still matte with soil, dark cherry preserves, that last jar of golden pickled beets.

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Even the way she chomps a cherry off a cocktail toothpick has menace.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

We worked hard as a family picking eastern Washington crops: cherries, apples, plums, grapes.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• chaste 
• pure 
• untouched 
• virginal 
• virtuous