raisin

[ rey-zin ]

/ ˈreɪ zɪn /

Save This Word!

noun

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

dark purplish blue.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of raisin

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

OTHER WORDS FROM raisin

rai·sin·y, adjective

Words nearby raisin

raise one's voice, raise the ante, raise the curtain, raise the devil, raise the roof, raisin, raising, raising plate, Raisin River, raison d'état, raison d'être

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

How to use raisin in a sentence

Add ½ to ¾ cup of raisins and 1 teaspoon each of salt, cinnamon and cloves.
Hints From Heloise: A real lemon of a lemon|Heloise Heloise|June 16, 2021|Washington Post
You can also try raisin breads or seeded breads — one blogger even succeeded with pumpkin bread — just avoid brownie mixes and more liquidy things.
A Bread Tube Will Cure the Mundanity of Regular Bread-Baking|Dayna Evans|April 8, 2021|Eater
Unlock the mixer bowl and, using a spatula, gently fold in the pecans and raisins.
This carrot cake with brown butter-cream cheese frosting will keep you coming back for more|Olga Massov|April 1, 2021|Washington Post
This is essentially making wine from raisins — you concentrate the grapes’ sugar and acidity, while losing 75 percent of the juice.
Old-guard vineyards take top honors at competitions in Maryland and Virginia, showcasing the region’s best|Dave McIntyre|March 12, 2021|Washington Post

At best, these claims blow small bits of evidence way out of proportion—sure, raisins contain nutrients that can contribute to healthy blood pressure, but eating them won’t magically cure hypertension.
Medicine, Not Healthy Food, Is Still the Best Medicine|Christine Byrne|March 12, 2021|Outside Online
Amiri Baraka echoed this sentiment 17 years after Raisin premiered—post-Birmingham, post-Medgar, post-Malcolm.
Is There a Ma Joad for the Piketty Era?|Katie Baker|July 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Someone needed to write the “protest plays,” as Hansberry described Raisin.
Is There a Ma Joad for the Piketty Era?|Katie Baker|July 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When Hansberry wrote A Raisin in the Sun, America was shimmering with the stirrings of social agitation.
Is There a Ma Joad for the Piketty Era?|Katie Baker|July 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Raisin has racked up five Tony nominations, including Best Revival of a Play, and Best Direction of a Play.
The Best Plays on Broadway|Marina Watts|May 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After the "raisin gliders," soup and a good stiff hoosh, Webb finished his observations while I recorded for him.
The Home of the Blizzard|Douglas Mawson
They all wore white cotton caps, men an' women; an' they made the caps themselves out of cotton of their own raisin'.
Duffels|Edward Eggleston
During that period he spent some time at Fresno, California, endeavoring to start a raisin ranch.
Lyman's History of old Walla Walla County, Vol. 2 (of 2)|William Denison Lyman
The second phase began likewise with a disaster—the needless loss of a thousand men on the Raisin River, near Detroit.
The Old Northwest|Frederic Austin Ogg
Why, at MacKenzie's raisin' last year he jist went round foamin' like an old boar and nobody dast say a word to him.
Corporal Cameron|Ralph Connor

British Dictionary definitions for raisin

raisin

/ (ˈreɪzən) /

noun

a dried grape

Derived forms of raisin

raisiny, adjective

Word Origin for raisin

C13: from Old French: grape, ultimately from Latin racēmus cluster of grapes; compare Greek rhax berry, grape

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