cherry

cher·ry

noun \ˈcher-ē, ˈche-rē\

plural cherries

Definition of CHERRY

1

a : any of numerous trees and shrubs (genus Prunus) of the rose family that bear pale yellow to deep red or blackish smooth-skinned drupes enclosing a smooth seed and that include some cultivated for their fruits or ornamental flowers — compare sour cherry, sweet cherry

b : the fruit of a cherry

c : the reddish-brown wood of a cherry; especially : black cherry 2

2

: a variable color averaging a moderate red

3

a : hymen

b : virginity

— cher·ry·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

Examples of CHERRY

1. The kitchen cabinets are made of cherry.

Origin of CHERRY

Middle English chery, from Anglo-French cherise, cirice (taken as a plural), from Late Latin ceresia, from Latin cerasus cherry tree, from Greek kerasos

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with CHERRY

aerie, airy, berry, bury, Carey, chary, dairy, Derry, faerie, fairy, ferry, Gerry, glairy, glary, hairy, Jerry, kerry, Mary, marry, merry, nary, perry, prairie, query, scary, serry, Shari, sherry, skerry, terry, Terry, vary, very, wary, wherry

cher·ry

noun \ˈcher-ē\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural cherries

Medical Definition of CHERRY

1

: any of numerous trees and shrubs (genus Prunus) of the rose family that bear pale yellow to deep red or blackish smooth-skinned drupes enclosing a smooth seed and that belong to any of several varieties including some cultivated for their fruits or ornamental flowers

2

: the fruit of a cherry

cherry

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Sour cherry (Prunus cerasus).—Grant Heilman Photography

Any of various trees of the genus Prunus and their edible fruits. Most are native to the Northern Hemisphere, where they are widely grown. Three types are grown mainly for their fruit: sweet cherries (P. avium); sour, or tart, cherries (P. cerasus); and, to a much lesser extent, dukes (crosses of sweet and sour cherries). Sweet-cherry trees are large, and their fruit is generally heart-shaped to nearly globular, varies in colour from yellow through red to nearly black, and has a low acid content. Sour-cherry trees are smaller and bear fruit that is round to oblate, generally dark red, and more acidic. Dukes are intermediate in both tree and fruit characteristics. The wood of some cherry species is especially esteemed for the manufacture of fine furniture. Ornamental varieties selected for the beauty of their flowers are a common feature of gardens.