noun A1 Beginner Common

fruit

froot

Fruit (noun) means the seed-bearing part of a plant, often sweet and eaten as food, such as an apple or orange. Example: “She packed some fruit for a healthy snack on the train.”

noun

The seed-bearing part of a plant, often sweet and eaten as food, such as an apple or orange.

"She packed some fruit for a healthy snack on the train."

"The market stall sold fresh fruit and vegetables."

A good or bad result of effort or action.

"The award was the fruit of years of hard work."

verb

To produce fruit.

"The apple tree fruits every autumn."

How to use fruit

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe edible, seed-containing part of a plant, or more broadly, the positive result of an effort.

Common mistake

The slang use of "fruit" as a slur for a gay man is dated, offensive, and best avoided entirely.

Common pairings

fresh fruit the fruits of labor fruit and vegetables

Word forms

fruited past tense, fruits plural, Fruits plural, fruits singular

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

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

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She packed some _____ for a healthy snack on the train.

Etymology

From Old French fruit, "produce," from Latin fructus, "enjoyment, produce, profit" — related to fruor, "to enjoy the benefit of."

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

View more →

yield

Related words

issue production produce afford defeat output submit generate

Rhymes for fruit

quit suit Inuit Jesuit circuit recruit lawsuit pursuit biscuit conduit swimsuit jumpsuit

See all rhymes for fruit →

Frequently asked questions

What does “fruit” mean?

The word “fruit” means the seed-bearing part of a plant, often sweet and eaten as food, such as an apple or orange. In plain terms, the edible, seed-containing part of a plant, or more broadly, the positive result of an effort.

How do you pronounce “fruit”?

“Fruit” is pronounced froot (/fɹut/ in IPA).

How do you use “fruit” in a sentence?

Here is “fruit” used in a sentence: “She packed some fruit for a healthy snack on the train.”

What part of speech is “fruit”?

Depending on how it is used, “fruit” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “fruit” come from?

The word “fruit” comes from Latin. From Old French fruit, "produce," from Latin fructus, "enjoyment, produce, profit" — related to fruor, "to enjoy the benefit of.".

Is “fruit” a common word?

“Fruit” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

How many meanings does “fruit” have?

“Fruit” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the seed-bearing part of a plant, often sweet and eaten as food, such as an apple or orange.

What is the difference between a fruit and a vegetable?

Botanically, a fruit is the seed-bearing part that grows from a flower, while vegetables are other plant parts like roots, stems, and leaves. In cooking, the split is about taste: sweet items are called fruit, savoury ones vegetables. That is why tomatoes are botanically fruit but used as vegetables.

Is a tomato a fruit?

Botanically, yes — a tomato develops from a flower and carries seeds, which makes it a fruit, as are cucumbers, peppers, and pumpkins. In the kitchen, though, tomatoes are treated as vegetables because they are savoury. Both answers are correct; they just use different definitions.

What are some examples of fruit?

Familiar fruits include apples, oranges, bananas, grapes, and strawberries. Botanically the group is broader, taking in tomatoes, cucumbers, and nuts as well. All share the same defining trait: they are the seed-bearing part of a flowering plant, whether sweet or savoury.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include fruit:

Words that start with F Words that end with T The 5000 most common English words

People also searched

issue production produce afford defeat output submit generate