raisin

American  

[rey-zin] / ˈreɪ zɪn /

noun

1. a grape of any of various sweet varieties dried in the sun or by artificial means, often used in cooking.

2. dark purplish blue.

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raisin British  

/ ˈreɪzən /

noun

1. a dried grape

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Other Word Forms

• raisiny adjective

Etymology

Origin of raisin

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English raisin, reisin, from Old French, from unattested Vulgar Latin racīmus, for Latin racēmus; raceme

Example Sentences

Scattered on top, golden raisins, shredded coconut, and chopped nuts lend texture and surprise—tiny bursts of crunch and chew, salt and sweetness in perfect harmony.

From Salon

Go for dried fruit if you want something chewy and concentrated: cranberries, golden or black raisins, figs, apricots, dates.

From Salon

It’s a succulent mix of cornmeal, meat, olives, raisins and other delectables cooked and wrapped in banana leaves, a kind of Venezuelan tamale.

From Los Angeles Times

One stall sold slices of mangoes brought in from Jazan, the fertile southern province famous for its tropical fruits, wheat and coffee; others sold raisins, spices, nuts and gourmet honey from Yemen.

From Los Angeles Times

Wittgenstein’s aphorisms sparkle, but he recognized he overused them, admitting that “raisins may be the best part of a cake; but a bag of raisins is not better than a cake.”

From The Wall Street Journal