inkberry

American

[ingk-ber-ee, -buh-ree] / ˈɪŋkˌbɛr i, -bə ri /

noun

Also called gallberry. a shrub, Ilex glabra, having leathery, evergreen leaves and black berries.
the pokeweed.
the berry of either plant.

inkberry British

/ ˈɪŋkˌbɛrɪ /

noun

a North American holly tree, Ilex glabra, with black berry-like fruits
another name for the pokeweed
the fruit of either of these plants

"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

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

inkberries

plural

Etymology

Origin of inkberry

An Americanism dating back to 1755–65; ink + berry

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The name inkberry was given to the plant because of the strong stain of the berry juice which was sometimes used for ink.

From On the Trail An Outdoor Book for Girls by Beard, Lina

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023