noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

cherry

CHEH-ree

Cherry (noun) means a small, round stone fruit, usually deep red, that grows on a tree of the genus Prunus. Example: “She picked a bowl of cherries from the tree in the garden.”

noun

A small, round stone fruit, usually deep red, that grows on a tree of the genus Prunus.

"She picked a bowl of cherries from the tree in the garden."

"The cake was topped with a single glacé cherry."

Informal: virginity, or someone's first experience of something.

"It was his first marathon — he finally lost his cherry."

adj

Bright red, the colour of a ripe cherry.

"He drove off in a cherry-red convertible."

How to Use Cherry

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small red fruit with a pit, or the bright red colour associated with it; informally, it can also mean a "first time."

Common mistake

The phrase "cherry-pick" (choosing only the best examples) uses cherry as a verb form unrelated to the fruit's literal picking.

Common pairings

cherry tree cherry blossom cherry red cherry on top

Word Forms

cherrier comparative, more cherry comparative, cherried past tense, cherries plural, Cherries plural, cherries singular, cherriest superlative, most cherry superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “cherry” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The cake was topped with a single glacé _____.

Etymology

Traced back through Old French and Latin to Ancient Greek kerasos, the name of the wild cherry tree — the same root that gives us "cerise" and the Turkish city "Giresun."

Origin: Ancient Greek

Rhymes for cherry

berry Kerry ferry Jerry merry terry perry Derry Gerry sherry mulberry Mayberry

See all rhymes for cherry →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “cherry” mean?

The word “cherry” means a small, round stone fruit, usually deep red, that grows on a tree of the genus Prunus. In plain terms, a small red fruit with a pit, or the bright red colour associated with it; informally, it can also mean a "first time.".

How do you pronounce “cherry”?

“Cherry” is pronounced CHEH-ree (/ˈt͡ʃɛɹi/ in IPA).

How do you use “cherry” in a sentence?

Here is “cherry” used in a sentence: “The cake was topped with a single glacé cherry.”

What part of speech is “cherry”?

Depending on how it is used, “cherry” can be a noun and an adjective.

Where does the word “cherry” come from?

The word “cherry” comes from Ancient Greek. Traced back through Old French and Latin to Ancient Greek kerasos, the name of the wild cherry tree — the same root that gives us "cerise" and the Turkish city "Giresun.".

Is “cherry” a common word?

“Cherry” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “cherry” have?

“Cherry” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, round stone fruit, usually deep red, that grows on a tree of the genus Prunus.

Featured In

Vocabulary lists that include cherry:

Words With Greek Origins