tomato

American  

[tuh-mey-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

Afterward, the young Vincent watched his father, his uncle and a few other men, all veterans of World War II, gather in the Coppolas’ backyard, where tomato plants flourished between weeds and broken glass.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

Even a cheese and tomato pizza is 38% water, with takeaway chips containing as much as 51%.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

It cuts through the richness of the tomato juice and gives the drink a briny, salty backbone that balances everything else.

From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2026

Flod scraped together tomato cages, chicken wire, paper, glue and pink house paint.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

The miller’s face turned a deeper red than his cherry tomato tunic.

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff

Stuff the grilled meat into charcoal-toasted pita with salata na’ameh—a finely diced Palestinian salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, onion and herbs—plus hummus, baba ganoush and/or toum, and you’ve got a handheld feast.

From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026

Cucumber, tomatoes, lettuce, celery, watermelon and strawberries all have very high water content, above 90%.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

How about red onion, cherry tomatoes or that half a shallot that’s threatening to turn into a plant in the back of your fridge?

From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2026

Instead, his wife will make him a turkey sandwich with tomatoes, cucumber and lettuce.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026

The soup he’s making smells delicious, a blend with onions, tomatoes, and spices.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Related Words

• bunny
• dish