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

“It’s one of the reasons why tomato and lettuce prices have been so problematic so far in 2026,” Volpe said.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 18, 2026

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

Remember what I said about using sun-dried tomato oil in focaccia dough?

From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2026

Even though I wasn’t craving any food except rice, I took a tomato so Susie wouldn’t feel like she was alone.

From "Root Magic" by Eden Royce

Navas, the former Manchester City forward, and Ruiz also received the gift of tomatoes after Spain won Euro 2024.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

Winning the World Cup brings many rewards for players... but receiving your own body weight in tomatoes is surely one of the more unusual.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

Unless cooked, vegetables such as green peppers, green onions, tomatoes and mushrooms were also off-limits.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 18, 2026

Crisp bacon, juicy diced tomatoes and ribbons of shaved green cabbage get folded in at the end, where they stay cool, crunchy and unmistakably BLT-adjacent.

From Salon ● Jul. 8, 2026

Pea plants were mashed, avocados were mushed, and tomatoes were soup.

From "Nim’s Island" by Wendy Orr

Related Words

• bunny
• dish