noun
Uncommon
fig
fihg
Fig (noun) means a soft, sweet fruit full of tiny seeds, grown on trees or shrubs of the genus Ficus. Example: “She added dried figs to the salad for a touch of sweetness.”
noun
1
A soft, sweet fruit full of tiny seeds, grown on trees or shrubs of the genus Ficus.
"She added dried figs to the salad for a touch of sweetness."
"He sliced a ripe fig in half and spread it on toast."
"Fresh figs are delicious with soft cheese and a little honey."
2
The tree or shrub that produces this fruit.
"They planted a fig in the corner of the garden."
"The old fig by the wall gives plenty of shade in summer."
"Our neighbour pruned the fig in autumn so it would grow better next year."
How to use fig
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe sweet, seedy fruit of the fig tree, eaten fresh or dried.
Common pairings
dried figs
fig tree
fig leaf
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Word forms
- Plural
- figs
- Third person singular
- figs
- Past tense
- figged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She added dried _____ to the salad for a touch of sweetness.
Etymology
From Old French figue, ultimately from Latin ficus, "fig tree" — a doublet of the word "fico."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “fig” mean?
The word “fig” means a soft, sweet fruit full of tiny seeds, grown on trees or shrubs of the genus Ficus. In plain terms, the sweet, seedy fruit of the fig tree, eaten fresh or dried.
How do you pronounce “fig”?
“Fig” is pronounced fihg (/fɪɡ/ in IPA).
How do you use “fig” in a sentence?
Here is “fig” used in a sentence: “She added dried figs to the salad for a touch of sweetness.”
What part of speech is “fig”?
“Fig” is a noun.
Where does the word “fig” come from?
The word “fig” comes from Latin. From Old French figue, ultimately from Latin ficus, "fig tree" — a doublet of the word "fico.".
Is “fig” a common word?
“Fig” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “fig” have?
“Fig” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a soft, sweet fruit full of tiny seeds, grown on trees or shrubs of the genus Ficus.
Is a fig a fruit or a flower?
A fig is described as a soft, sweet fruit full of tiny seeds, grown on trees or shrubs of the genus Ficus, so in everyday language it is a fruit. Botanically it has an unusual structure, but for culinary and general purposes it is treated as a fruit.
What is the difference between a fig and a date?
A fig is a soft, sweet fruit full of tiny seeds that grows on trees or shrubs of the genus Ficus. A date is the fruit of the date palm and has a single large stone rather than many tiny seeds, so the two are different fruits despite both being sweet and often dried.
Does 'fig' refer to the fruit or the tree?
It can refer to both. Fig names the soft, sweet fruit full of tiny seeds, and it also names the tree or shrub of the genus Ficus that produces it, so context tells you which is meant.
