quince

American  

[kwins] / kwɪns /

noun

• quinces
  plural

1. either of two small trees, Cydonia oblonga or C. sinensis, of the rose family, bearing hard, fragrant, yellowish fruit used chiefly for making jelly or preserves.

2. the fruit of such a tree.

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quince British  

/ kwɪns /

noun

1. a small widely cultivated Asian rosaceous tree, Cydonia oblonga, with pinkish-white flowers and edible pear-shaped fruits

2. the acid-tasting fruit of this tree, much used in preserves

3. Also: Japanese or flowering quince. another name for japonica

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• quinces
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of quince

1275–1325; Middle English quince, apparently originally plural (taken as singular) of quyne, coyn < Middle French cooin < Latin cotōneum, akin to cydōnium < Greek ( mêlon ) Kydṓnion quince, literally, (apple) of Cydonia

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Explanation

A quince is a flowering tree whose fruit is also called quince. A quince looks a lot like a pear, although most varieties taste very sour. Quince trees are often grown ornamentally, rather than for their fruit — their soft, wide pink or white blossoms are beautiful, and many varieties smell just as lovely. The fruit of some quinces is sweet enough to be eaten raw, but most is harvested for jam or jelly, or added to other fruit in pies. Quince can also be fermented and made into wine and digestifs.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

quince quinces

“I have a box of quince, another of stone fruit peaches and plums,” he’ll text.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 2, 2026

Black irises, poppies and flowering quince from her garden adorned vases, shallow banchan dishes and scalloped serving trays.

From New York Times ● Mar. 14, 2024

“I have people tell me years later they still remember, that they will always remember being in the quince room.”

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 31, 2023

The village was under occupation by the Russian army, so Vadym went out periodically from their shell-damaged house to dig in a far corner of the garden shaded by apricot and quince trees.

From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2022

Shortly afterwards, Cornflower arrived bearing a tray of breakfast for them both: nutbread, salad, milk and some of Friar Hugo’s special quince pie.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

He also grew pears, figs, quinces, lemons and apples — and oranges.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2024

This quinceañera boom won’t last forever — it’s not every year when 16-year-olds are celebrating quinces, too.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2021

Next, Mirianashvili dumped the quinces into a pot and put it on the stove.

From The New Yorker ● Apr. 22, 2019

Another Seattle project is the Beacon Food Forest, growing things like figs, quinces and hazelnuts on public land.

From New York Times ● May 11, 2013

"Let’s ask your mom if we can borrow something. I'm sure she’s got something nice. I mean, this is like a dress rehearsal for our quinces."

From "The Red Umbrella" by Christina Gonzalez

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