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

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

From Science Daily ● May 18, 2026

"Pollution is killing livestock farming and grape harvests, once the backbone of the local economy," he said.

From Barron's ● May 15, 2026

As a prominent labour organiser, Chavez helped lead a major strike against Delano grape growers in the 1960s, which sparked boycotts across the country, in order to gain better wages and conditions for workers.

From BBC ● Mar. 30, 2026

Jacobsen, an almond and raisin grape grower, tracked his chill hours carefully all winter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 29, 2026

She regarded the main part of the basement: the one saggy couch that had been retired from the living room upstairs after Finn spilled grape Kool-Aid on it.

From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Platner himself resigned with sour grapes, insisting he’s being unfairly treated and implying he’s the victim of a conspiracy.

From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2026

Apples, carrots, cooked broccoli and pears contain 80% to 89% water, as do oranges, grapes and pineapple.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

The drink’s evolution has included more sparkling wines made with red wine grapes, such as Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026

Despite arable land making up just three percent of the territory, it is one of Argentina's main producers of olive oil, grapes, tomatoes and pistachios.

From Barron's ● Jun. 15, 2026

He took a basket of grapes and a sympathy note to Lucretia, which he handed to Brown before going in to speak with Bliss and Woodward.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow