currant

[ kur-uhnt, kuhr- ]

/ ˈkɜr ənt, ˈkʌr- /

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noun

a small seedless raisin, of the cultivar Black Corinth, produced chiefly in Greece, and used in cooking and confectionery.

the small, edible, acidic, round fruit of certain wild or cultivated shrubs of the genus Ribes.

any of various fruit-bearing shrubs of the genus Ribes, including black currant and gooseberry.

any of various fruits or shrubs resembling those of the genus Ribes.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of currant

First recorded in 1300–50; shortened from Middle English raysons of Coraunte “raisins of Corinth, ” the port in Greece from which they originally came

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH currant

currant , current

Words nearby currant

curn, Curnow, curr, currach, currajong, currant, currant borer, currant bun, currant tomato, currantworm, currawong

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use currant in a sentence

Barkeley came up with the idea for The Daily Currant after a few other career tracks failed to pan out.
The Daily Currant Moves In on The Onion’s Turf|David Freedlander|March 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Pour the currant sauce over the dish, garnish with the fresh oregano or parsley, and serve.
Roast Chicken, Eggplant Pancakes, Cranberry-Walnut Tart|The Daily Beast|December 23, 2008|DAILY BEAST
She's going to have her currant jell' made right away, even whilst the currants are half green.
Dorothy at Skyrie|Evelyn Raymond
Almost any other kind of shrub'd have died long ago, neglected as things have been, but you can't kill a currant bush.
Dorothy at Skyrie|Evelyn Raymond

I wanted you to make calls with me and to help me with the currant jelly and to put those button-holes into my linen wrapper.
Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline|Jennie M. Drinkwater
Pound it in a mortar with some red currant jelly and make up into small cakes with raw eggs.
Dressed Game and Poultry la Mode|Harriet A. de Salis
A wineglassful of port should be added, and a good spoonful of red currant jelly should be dissolved in it.
Dressed Game and Poultry la Mode|Harriet A. de Salis

British Dictionary definitions for currant

currant

/ (ˈkʌrənt) /

noun

a small dried seedless grape of the Mediterranean region, used in cooking

any of several mainly N temperate shrubs of the genus Ribes, esp R. rubrum (redcurrant) and R. nigrum (blackcurrant): family GrossulariaceaeSee also gooseberry (def. 1)

the small acid fruit of any of these plants

Word Origin for currant

C16: shortened from rayson of Corannte raisin of Corinth

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012