grapefruit
GRAYPF-root
Grapefruit (noun) means a large, round citrus fruit with a tart, slightly bitter flavor, ranging from pale yellow to pink or red inside. Example: “She sprinkled sugar over half a grapefruit for breakfast.”
noun
1
A large, round citrus fruit with a tart, slightly bitter flavor, ranging from pale yellow to pink or red inside.
"She sprinkled sugar over half a grapefruit for breakfast."
How to use grapefruit
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tart citrus fruit, popular at breakfast and known for its slightly bitter edge.
Common mistake
Grapefruit can interact with certain medications — worth noting in health contexts, but not implied by the word itself.
Common pairings
grapefruit juice
pink grapefruit
half a grapefruit
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Word forms
- Plural
- grapefruits
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She sprinkled sugar over half a _____ for breakfast.
Etymology
Likely from "grape" plus "fruit," referring to the way the fruit grows in cluster-like bunches on the tree, similar to grapes.
Synonyms
View more →
grapefruit tree
Citrus × paradisi
Citrus sinensis × Citrus grandis
Citrus sinensis × Citrus maxima
Rhymes for grapefruit
See all rhymes for grapefruit →Frequently asked questions
What does “grapefruit” mean?
The word “grapefruit” means a large, round citrus fruit with a tart, slightly bitter flavor, ranging from pale yellow to pink or red inside. In plain terms, a tart citrus fruit, popular at breakfast and known for its slightly bitter edge.
How do you pronounce “grapefruit”?
“Grapefruit” is pronounced GRAYPF-root (/ˈɡɹeɪ̯pfɹut/ in IPA).
How do you use “grapefruit” in a sentence?
Here is “grapefruit” used in a sentence: “She sprinkled sugar over half a grapefruit for breakfast.”
What is another word for “grapefruit”?
Words with a similar meaning to “grapefruit” include grapefruit tree, Citrus × paradisi, Citrus sinensis × Citrus grandis and Citrus sinensis × Citrus maxima.
What part of speech is “grapefruit”?
“Grapefruit” is a noun.
Is “grapefruit” a common word?
“Grapefruit” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
