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.
a small rosaceous tree, Prunus domestica, with white flowers and an edible oval fruit that is purple, yellow, or green and contains an oval stone See 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
before 900; Middle English; Old English plūme (cognate with German Pflaume ) ≪ Greek proûmnon plum, proúmnē plum tree; cf. prune 1
A plum is a flowering fruit tree, and it's also the name of the fruit that grows on it. Plums are small, dark reddish purple, and sweet. Plums have an edible, smooth skin, juicy flesh, and a hard pit in the middle. When plums are dried, they're called prunes. The typical color of a ripe plum — a rich, purple-red shade — is also called plum. And informally, you can say that something great or desirable is plum: "I was just offered a plum role in the school play!"
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Franklin Graham, who has built his entire career piggybacking on the fame of his famous father, the late evangelist Billy Graham, was rewarded with a plum spot on Sunday’s roster.
From Salon • May 15, 2026
The tomatoes have an elongated plum shape and a pointed tip.
From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026
A plum gig at a Big Three network used to be the only way for a journalist to get the pay and prestige of a superstar.
From Slate • May 6, 2026
He's 24-years-old from Barcelona, and he's a plum.
From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026
The spreading moss is crushed by deep plum and sparkling gold as he pulls her away.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
