tomato

American  

[tuh-may-toh, -mah-] / təˈmeɪ toʊ, -ˈmɑ- /

noun

• tomatoes
  plural

1. any of several plants belonging to the genus Lycopersicon, of the nightshade family, native to Mexico and Central and South America, especially the widely cultivated species L. lycopersicum, bearing a mildly acid, pulpy, usually red fruit eaten raw or cooked as a vegetable.

2. the fruit itself.

3. Older Slang: Sometimes Offensive. a girl or woman.

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tomato British  

/ təˈmɑːtəʊ /

noun

1. a solanaceous plant, Lycopersicon (or Lycopersicum ) esculentum, of South America, widely cultivated for its red fleshy many-seeded edible fruits

2. the fruit of this plant, which has slightly acid-tasting flesh and is eaten in salads, as a vegetable, etc

3. slang a girl or woman

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Usage

What is a tomato? A tomato is a pulpy fruit from the genus Lycopersicon, usually eaten raw or cooked as a vegetable. Culturally, tomatoes are most often enjoyed as a vegetable, but they are botanically classified as a fruit because the tomato is a developed ovary of a seed plant. Scientifically, they are classified as a berry because the tomato develops from a single flower and does not contain a pit. There are several species of tomato. Most are native to Central and South America, with many species being farmed in Mexico. The most common tomato purchased and eaten is the L. lycopersicum, also known as the garden tomato. As it grows, the color of its skin changes from green to dark red and is commonly used for food products like ketchup, tomato sauce, and soups. Other types of tomatoes include cherry tomatoes or Lycopersicon esculentum, named for their small, red appearance similar to a cherry. Currant tomatoes, or Solanum pimpinellifolium, are known for their small size and sweet flavor, while beefsteak tomatoes, or Solanum lycopersicum, grow to be very large and have ridges similar to a pumpkin or gourd. Heirloom tomatoes, which are non-hybrids, come in a variety of sizes and colorsExample: Guinea pigs love cherry tomatoes because they are small and sweet.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• tomatoes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of tomato

1595–1605; 1915–20 tomato for def. 3; earlier tomate < Spanish < Nahuatl tomatl

Compare meaning

How does tomato compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• tomatillo vs. tomato

Explanation

Although usually called a vegetable and eaten as such, the tomato is actually a fruit that can be eaten raw or cooked. It might be red or yellow in various sizes, and comes in shapes from round to pear-shaped. Since the tomato is native to South America, it makes sense that its name is based in the Spanish tomate, and can be traced to the Aztecs, whose language, Nahuatl, contained the word tomatl, or "the swelling fruit." In 1519, Cortez brought tomato seeds to Spain, where the plant was grown as an ornament but not for eating. The French called them pommes d'amour, or “love apples,” and in 1929 the word became American slang for a pretty girl.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tomato tomatoes

The pub is decked out in Lidl’s signature bright red, yellow and blue and decorated with jars of instant coffee and cans of house-brand tomato soup.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

"I make some plain bread, sometimes I can have it with a tomato, or with some honey, and a tea. That's it."

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

Jason Brasher, an innovation manager at Mizkan America, which makes Ragu and Bertolli tomato sauce, said consumer-goods manufacturers are trying to stay ahead with research and development that leads to new products.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026

The economy of the state, with 3 million inhabitants and significant corn and tomato crops, has declined due to the violence.

From Barron's ● Sep. 13, 2026

It looked like a painting, the ridges of brown earth, the tepees of dark green tomato plants with their bright red fruits, the bent figures of the pickers and the blue sky overhead.

From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt

“There is everything in the perfect bite,” Moore said of the vaunted marriage of ground beef, shredded cheese, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes and rich sour cream in a corn shell.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

Processing tomatoes — those used in products such as canned diced tomatoes and ketchup — are also fetching lower prices than they did a few years ago.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026

His firm offers growers crop predictions for strawberries and also raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and tomatoes.

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026

With mounting Russian attacks on the capital, his family is in "constant stress" and he tries to distract himself by planting tomatoes.

From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026

Cold chicken, cold cornbread, sliced tomatoes with thin slivers of onion on top, and her sour pickles.

From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney

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