plum

[ pluhm ]

/ plʌm /

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See synonyms for plum on Thesaurus.com

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

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

Plummer, however, said Huawei was still interested in U.S. markets.
Red Flag Raised on Chinese Telecom Deal|Eli Lake|December 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Christopher Plummer, the octogenarian star of stage and screen, is showing no signs of slowing down.
Christopher Plummer on Muhammad Ali and Getting a Police Horse Drunk|Marlow Stern|October 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Plummer found the film so saccharine that he even developed a nickname for it: “The Sound of Mucus.”
Jim Carrey’s Rant Against ‘Kick-Ass 2’ and 13 Other Stars Who Hate Their Own Films|Marlow Stern|June 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Even though the film is regarded as a classic, Plummer has made it known over the years that he hates the film.
Jim Carrey’s Rant Against ‘Kick-Ass 2’ and 13 Other Stars Who Hate Their Own Films|Marlow Stern|June 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Many, says Plummer, actually pay it at higher rates than Romney.
Who Are the 47 Percent? 7 Facts about the Americans Mitt Romney Attacked|Kevin Fallon|September 18, 2012|DAILY BEAST
But I was convinced that you were at no great distance, and decided to try the signal which Plummer and I had used before.
The Young Ranchers|Edward S. Ellis
There were various other samples of his handicraft besides Dolls in Caleb Plummer's room.
The Cricket on the Hearth|Charles Dickens
After that, in spite of himself, he would be glancing uneasily at the Plummer place across the road.
The Wrong Twin|Harry Leon Wilson
It was Plummer who had knocked, and he came in at Mr. Neal's call.
Chronicles of Martin Hewitt|Arthur Morrison
I already had it from Plummer that Laker had not been recognised there.
Chronicles of Martin Hewitt|Arthur Morrison

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

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)