grape

American  

[greyp] / greɪp /

noun

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

• grapeless
  adjective
• grapelike
  adjective

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

On Tuesday, health food brand Grape Tree issued recall notices for two of its products due to possible contamination with undeclared peanuts and milk.

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2025

So imagine her surprise when she learned that she and her stepmother won the Grape Camp winemaking competition.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 27, 2025

If you’re a fan of frozen sour grapes, then Kanro’s Puré Grape Gummies are a must-try.

From Salon • Jul. 19, 2025

San Joaquin Valley wine grape growers are reluctantly prepared for the prohibition, said Jeff Bitter, president of Allied Grape Growers.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 3, 2025

This time he returned not only with FrankenPuffs but Grape Nuts as well.

From "Wringer" by Jerry Spinelli