cherry
pronunciation
How to pronounce cherry in British English:
UK [ˈtʃeri]
How to pronounce cherry in American English:
US [ˈtʃeri]
-
- Noun:
- wood of any of various cherry trees especially the black cherry
- any of numerous trees and shrubs producing a small fleshy round fruit with a single hard stone; many also produce a valuable hardwood
- fruit with a single hard stone
- a red the color of ripe cherries
-
- Adjective:
- having any of numerous bright or strong colors reminiscent of the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies
Word Origin
- cherry
- cherry: [14] Cherry comes ultimately from Greek kerasós ‘cherry tree’, which in Latin became cerasus. This was borrowed into the Germanic languages in prehistoric times, producing, as well as German kirsche, Old English ciris ‘cherry’, which died out in the 11th century. In Vulgar Latin, meanwhile, cerasus had become ceresia, which passed into Old Northern French as cherise (source of modern French cerise). When it was borrowed into English, its -s ending was misinterpreted as indicating plurality, so a ‘new’ singular cherry was created.
- cherry (n.)
- c. 1300, earlier in surname Chyrimuth (1266, literally "Cherry-mouth"); from Anglo-French cherise, from Old North French cherise (Old French, Modern French cerise, 12c.), from Vulgar Latin *ceresia, from late Greek kerasian "cherry," from Greek kerasos "cherry tree," possibly from a language of Asia Minor. Mistaken in Middle English for a plural and stripped of its -s (compare pea). Old English had ciris "cherry" from a West Germanic borrowing of the Vulgar Latin word (cognate with German Kirsch), but it died out after the Norman invasion and was replaced by the French word. Meaning "maidenhead, virginity" is from 1889, U.S. slang, from supposed resemblance to the hymen, but perhaps also from the long-time use of cherries as a symbol of the fleeting quality of life's pleasures.
Example
- 1. I wish I had a cherry without a stone .
- 2. From just this cherry pit .
- 3. A white cherry branch with black blossoms .
- 4. Some women prefer cherry or wine lipstick to scarlet .
- 5. A sigh of wind rustled the cherry tree and shivered among the blossoms .