berry
Berry (noun) means a small, juicy, often sweet fruit that grows on a bush or vine, such as a blueberry or strawberry. Example: “The kids spent the afternoon picking wild berries along the fence line.”
How to use berry
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small, juicy fruit, or (informally) to go out gathering them.
Botanically, some fruits called "berries" in everyday speech (like strawberries) aren't true berries, while some fruits that don't sound like berries (like bananas and tomatoes) technically are — everyday usage just ignores the botanical definition.
Word forms
berried past tense, berried past tense, berries plural, berries plural, berries plural, berries singular, berries singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They went _____ in the woods behind the cabin.
Etymology
From Old English berġe, a very old Germanic word for small stoneless fruit — related to similar words in German and Scandinavian languages.
Rhymes for berry
See all rhymes for berry →Frequently asked questions
What does “berry” mean?
The word “berry” means a small, juicy, often sweet fruit that grows on a bush or vine, such as a blueberry or strawberry. In plain terms, a small, juicy fruit, or (informally) to go out gathering them.
How do you pronounce “berry”?
“Berry” is pronounced BEH-ree (/ˈbɛɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “berry” in a sentence?
Here is “berry” used in a sentence: “They went berrying in the woods behind the cabin.”
What part of speech is “berry”?
Depending on how it is used, “berry” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “berry” come from?
The word “berry” comes from Old English. From Old English berġe, a very old Germanic word for small stoneless fruit — related to similar words in German and Scandinavian languages.
Is “berry” a common word?
“Berry” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “berry” have?
“Berry” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, juicy, often sweet fruit that grows on a bush or vine, such as a blueberry or strawberry.
What is the difference between a berry and a fruit?
All berries are fruits, but not all fruits are berries. In everyday use, 'berry' means a small, juicy, often sweet fruit that grows on a bush or vine, such as a blueberry or strawberry, rather than a larger fruit like an apple or pear.
Why do so many berries end in the word 'berry'?
Many common berry names are compound words made by adding '-berry' to another word, as in blueberry, blackberry, strawberry, and raspberry. The ending signals that the fruit is the small, round kind that grows on a bush or vine.
What is the difference between 'berry' and 'bury'?
'Berry' and 'bury' are homophones, meaning they sound alike in many accents but differ in spelling and meaning. 'Berry' is a small, juicy fruit, while 'bury' is a verb meaning to place something in the ground.
When is 'berry' used as a verb?
As a verb, 'berry' means to pick or gather berries, as in 'they went berrying by the river.' This use is far less common than the noun and usually appears as the gerund 'berrying.'
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Vocabulary lists that include berry: