plum

[ pluhm ]

/ plʌm /

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noun

the drupaceous fruit of any of several trees belonging to the genus Prunus, of the rose family, having an oblong stone.

the tree itself.

any of various other trees bearing a plumlike fruit.

the fruit itself.

a sugarplum.

a raisin, as in a cake or pudding.

a deep purple varying from bluish to reddish.

Informal. an excellent or desirable thing, as a fine position: The choicest plums went to his old cronies.

Informal. an unanticipated large increase in money or property, as an unexpected legacy; a windfall: The company offered bonuses and other plums.

Also called displacer . a large stone used in massive concrete construction.

adjective, plum·mer, plum·mest.

extremely desirable, rewarding, profitable, or the like: a plum job in the foreign service.

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of plum

before 900; Middle English; Old English plūme (cognate with German Pflaume) ≪ Greek proûmnon plum, proúmnē plum tree; cf. prune¹

OTHER WORDS FROM plum

plumlike, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH plum

plum , plumb

Words nearby plum

plugger, plughole, plug-in, plugola, plugugly, plum, plumage, plumate, plumb, plumbaginaceous, plumbaginous

Other definitions for plum (2 of 2)

Plum

[ pluhm ]

/ plʌm /

noun

a city in SW Pennsylvania.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use plum in a sentence

Meny suggests the compact, dense variety named Rubicon, which has the bonus of turning an attractive plum-purple in cold winters.
Winter wonders: Conifers revive the sleeping garden. But remember, less is more.|Adrian Higgins|December 2, 2020|Washington Post
In 1939, an “early New England Thanksgiving menu” included oyster soup, venison, cornbread and plum pudding with brandy sauce.
143 years of Thanksgiving coverage in The Post|Becky Krystal|November 9, 2020|Washington Post
North America’s various beach plums bear purple-blue, cherry-sized fruits that make for a beloved New England jelly.
How passion, luck and sweat saved some of North America’s rarest plants|Susan Milius|November 5, 2020|Science News
The Sense also supports Fitbit Pay, which connects to your credit and debit cards and supports contactless payments—a plum feature to have during a pandemic for those on the go.
Gift Guide: What you need to work(out) from home|Rachel King|November 2, 2020|Fortune

This unique style suits coach Bill Laimbeer — whose teams have often ranked near the bottom of the league in 3-point shooting — and a roster missing Plum’s pick-and-roll wizardry and Cambage’s dominant interior scoring.
The Aces Don’t Need Threes To Win|Mike Prada|September 18, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
It was popularized as a holiday dessert in 16th-century England and also is known as Christmas pudding or plum pudding.
The Most Confusing Christmas Music Lyrics Explained (VIDEO)|Kevin Fallon|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At least those parents whose kids landed the plum roles will be.
Was Baby Jesus A Holy Terror?|Candida Moss|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Central won thirty-three consecutive games, and Suffridge became a plum for the college recruiters.
Football Great Bob Suffridge Wanders Through the End Zone of Life|Paul Hemphill|September 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Now Yesh Atid will demand and receive additional plum ministries.
The Knesset's New Faces|Don Futterman|January 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
After realizing how difficult this plum post would be, “Biden” writes that he “wised up and settled on my current fallback plan.”
Speed Read: 11 Best Bits from Joe Biden Satire ‘The President of Vice’|Caroline Linton|January 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Spain is at war with North America, and now offers us this sugar-plum to draw us to her side to defend her against invasion.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
The system would be perfect for the mellowing of port or madeira, but when it is applied to plum and apple jam or, when 18 pr.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
If the cake rises well in the oven, it is commonly said that it is "nice and plum;" and vice vers, that it is heavy.
Notes and Queries, Number 194, July 16, 1853|Various
Cheese is now eaten with apple puddings and pies; but is there any nook in England where they still grate it over plum pudding?
Notes and Queries, Number 178, March 26, 1853|Various
Kano pensively lifted a plum upon the point of a toothpick and began nibbling at its wrinkled skin.
The Dragon Painter|Mary McNeil Fenollosa

British Dictionary definitions for plum (1 of 2)

plum¹

/ (plʌm) /

noun

a small rosaceous tree, Prunus domestica, with white flowers and an edible oval fruit that is purple, yellow, or green and contains an oval stoneSee also greengage, damson

the fruit of this tree

a raisin, as used in a cake or pudding

a dark reddish-purple colour
(as adjective)a plum carpet

informal

something of a superior or desirable kind, such as a financial bonus
(as modifier)a plum job

Derived forms of plum

plumlike, adjective

Word Origin for plum

Old English plūme; related to Latin prunum, German Pflaume

British Dictionary definitions for plum (2 of 2)

plum²

/ (plʌm) /

adjective, adverb

a variant spelling of plumb (def. 3), plumb (def. 4), plumb (def. 5), plumb (def. 6)

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

plum

Origin of plum

OTHER WORDS FROM plum

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH plum

Words nearby plum

Other definitions for plum (2 of 2)

Words related to plum

How to use plum in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for plum (1 of 2)

Derived forms of plum

Word Origin for plum

British Dictionary definitions for plum (2 of 2)