noun
Uncommon
blackberry
BLAK-buh-ree
Blackberry (noun) means a thorny shrub that produces small, dark, edible berries made up of tiny clustered segments. Example: “We planted a blackberry bush along the back fence.”
noun
1
A thorny shrub that produces small, dark, edible berries made up of tiny clustered segments.
"We planted a blackberry bush along the back fence."
"A blackberry will scramble over walls and fences if nobody cuts it back."
"The wild blackberry by the path has sharp thorns, so wear gloves."
2
The dark, sweet-tart berry produced by this shrub.
"She picked a handful of ripe blackberries from the hedge."
"The pie was full of fresh blackberries."
"Each blackberry in the bowl was dark, juicy and slightly sour."
verb
1
To go out and gather blackberries.
"They spent the afternoon blackberrying along the country lane."
"Every September we go blackberrying with buckets and old clothes."
"The children came home from blackberrying with purple fingers and full baskets."
How to use blackberry
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA dark, clustered berry, or the prickly bush it grows on.
Common mistake
Capitalized "BlackBerry" refers to the old smartphone brand, not the fruit.
Common pairings
blackberry bush
blackberry jam
wild blackberries
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Word forms
- Plural
- blackberries
- Third person singular
- blackberries
- Past tense
- blackberried
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We planted a _____ bush along the back fence.
Etymology
From Old English blæcberġe, a straightforward combination of black and berry.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for blackberry
See all rhymes for blackberry →Frequently asked questions
What does “blackberry” mean?
The word “blackberry” means a thorny shrub that produces small, dark, edible berries made up of tiny clustered segments. In plain terms, a dark, clustered berry, or the prickly bush it grows on.
How do you pronounce “blackberry”?
“Blackberry” is pronounced BLAK-buh-ree (/ˈblækbɛɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “blackberry” in a sentence?
Here is “blackberry” used in a sentence: “We planted a blackberry bush along the back fence.”
What part of speech is “blackberry”?
Depending on how it is used, “blackberry” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “blackberry” come from?
The word “blackberry” comes from Old English. From Old English blæcberġe, a straightforward combination of black and berry.
Is “blackberry” a common word?
“Blackberry” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “blackberry” have?
“Blackberry” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thorny shrub that produces small, dark, edible berries made up of tiny clustered segments.
What is the difference between "blackberry" and "raspberry"?
Both are berries made up of tiny clustered segments, but a blackberry is dark, almost black when ripe, and its central core stays inside the fruit when picked, while a raspberry is typically red and hollow once picked. Blackberries also tend to be larger and have a more tart edge than raspberries.
Is "BlackBerry" the phone brand related to the fruit "blackberry"?
The word is the same, but as a dictionary entry "blackberry" refers only to the thorny shrub and its dark, sweet-tart fruit, or the verb meaning to gather such berries. The capitalized "BlackBerry" smartphone brand is a separate proprietary name and not part of the common noun's meaning.
What does it mean "to blackberry"?
Used as a verb, "to blackberry" means to go out and gather blackberries, typically from wild bushes in late summer. This usage is more common in British English than in American English.
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