grape

American  

[greyp] / greɪp /

noun

• grapes
  plural

1. the edible, pulpy, smooth-skinned berry or fruit that grows in clusters on vines of the genus Vitis, and from which wine is made.

2. any vine bearing this fruit.

3. a dull, dark, purplish-red color.

4. (used with a singular verb) grapes,

   1. tuberculosis occurring in cattle, characterized by the internal formation of grapelike clusters, especially in the lungs.

   2. tuberculosis occurring in horses, characterized by grapelike clusters on the fetlocks.

5. grapeshot.

6. the grape, wine.

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grape British  

/ ɡreɪp /

noun

1. the fruit of the grapevine, which has a purple or green skin and sweet flesh: eaten raw, dried to make raisins, currants, or sultanas, or used for making wine

2. any of various plants that bear grapelike fruit, such as the Oregon grape

3. See grapevine

4. an informal term for wine

5. See grapeshot

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grape Idioms  

1. see sour grapes.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• grapeless
  adjective
• grapelike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• grapes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of grape

1200–50; Middle English < Old French, variant of crape cluster of fruit or flowers, originally hook (for pruning vines) < Germanic; compare German Krapf hook and grapple ( def. ), grapnel

Explanation

A grape is a small, sweet fruit that grows in clusters on a vine. Most grapes are either purple or green, and they make a delicious addition to a fruit salad. Though grapes naturally contain tiny seeds, many varieties of so-called "table grapes" are bred to be seedless, so you can pop one grape after another in your mouth. Dried grapes are known as raisins, and this versatile berry is used to make many other products, including jelly, juice, and wine. Experts believe the word grape comes from an Old French verb, graper, "catch with a hook" or "pick grapes off the vine."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

grape grapes

All are hybrids - crossbred varieties created by combining two or more distinct grape species.

From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026

Now heatwaves are threatening the grape crop and raising costs for the 2026 vintage, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

Announced last week in a post on Instagram, the drink was described as a “clarified tonic” with coconut water, jasmine tea, raw honey, holy basil, anise hyssop, green cardamom, white grape juice and coconut milk.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026

Additional changes appeared when grape consumption and UV exposure were combined.

From Science Daily ● May 18, 2026

Madame Sabbar quick shot another grape and it disappeared down Jimmy’s throat, making a sound like a soap bubble getting busted!

From "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis

“Taste for honey and grapes fatal,” The Times wrote.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

Millions of pounds of paraquat pesticide are sprayed annually on almonds, grapes, cotton and other crops, primarily in the San Joaquin Valley.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

Some vineyards have been ripping out prized grapes as they sit on unsold bottles.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

The sun is out, again, and the grapes are plump and plentiful.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

Me and Imani are sitting on the front steps of the school, sharing a bag of grapes, waiting for the day to happen.

From "Blended" by Sharon M. Draper