currant

[ kur-uh nt, kuhr- ]

/ ˈkɜr ənt, ˈkʌr- /

noun

a small seedless raisin, produced chiefly in California and in the Levant, and used in cookery and confectionery.

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

the shrub itself.

any of various similar fruits or shrubs.

Nearby words

curn, curnow, curr, currach, currajong, currant, currant borer, currant bun, currant jelly clot, currant tomato, currantworm

Origin of currant

1300–50; shortened from Middle English raysons of Coraunte raisins of Corinth, the port in Greece from which they orig. came

Can be confused

currant current (see synonym study at current)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for currant

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
Here the vines are trained on sticks or grow like currant bushes, and as in Germany, lose their beauty.
Glories of Spain|Charles W. Wood
With mutton or lamb chops serve green grape jelly, mint or currant jelly.
Mrs. Wilson's Cook Book|Mary A. Wilson

"Mary, the currant jelly," said Miss Strange in an intense undertone, and glanced eloquently at Reynold's plate.
Mitchelhurst Place, Vol. I (of 2)|Margaret Veley
At that, I hold no brief for the pheasant—except when served with breadcrumb dressing and currant jelly he is no friend of mine.
Europe Revised|Irvin S. Cobb
It had a blemish, in the nature of currant jelly, on its chin; and was a thirsty child.
The Uncommercial Traveller|Charles Dickens

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