English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
Login Flashcards
noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

cherry

CHEH-ree
Quiz me More like this

Cherry (noun) means a small, round stone fruit, usually deep red, that grows on a tree of the genus Prunus. Example: “We bought a punnet of fresh cherries at the market on Saturday.”

noun
1
A small, round stone fruit, usually deep red, that grows on a tree of the genus Prunus.
"We bought a punnet of fresh cherries at the market on Saturday."
"She picked a bowl of cherries from the tree in the garden."
"The cake was topped with a single glacé cherry."
2
Informal: virginity, or someone's first experience of something.
"It was his first marathon — he finally lost his cherry."
adj
1
Bright red, the colour of a ripe cherry.
"She painted the front door a bright cherry shade."
"The little girl proudly wore her cherry lipstick to the party."
"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
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like cherry.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice

Word forms

Plural
cherries
Third person singular
cherries
Past tense
cherried
Comparative
cherrier, more cherry
Superlative
cherriest, most cherry
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

Synonyms

View more →
cerise scarlet ruby crimson ruddy red reddish carmine

Related words

white red blue violent communist bleeding pale cardinal

Rhymes for cherry

berry Kerry ferry Jerry merry terry perry Derry Gerry sherry bilberry barberry
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.
Is a cherry a fruit or a berry?
A cherry is a small, round stone fruit, meaning it has a single hard pit or stone at its center, and it grows on trees of the genus Prunus. Botanically it is a drupe, not a true berry, because of that central stone. In everyday language it is simply called a fruit.
What is the difference between cherry and cherry red?
Cherry on its own can mean the fruit or, as an adjective, the bright red colour of a ripe cherry. Cherry red spells out that colour meaning explicitly. When cherry describes a colour, it points to a vivid, deep red like the fruit's skin.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include cherry:

Words with Greek origins

People also searched

white red blue violent communist bleeding pale cardinal