peach

¹peach

noun \ˈpēch\

Definition of PEACH

1

a : a low spreading freely branching Chinese tree (Prunus persica) of the rose family that has lanceolate leaves and sessile usually pink flowers and is widely cultivated in temperate areas for its edible fruit which is a single-seeded drupe with a hard central stone, a pulpy white or yellow flesh, and a thin fuzzy skin

b : the edible fruit of the peach

2

: a moderate yellowish pink

3

: one resembling a peach (as in sweetness, beauty, or excellence)

Examples of PEACH

1. <fondly remembers his old Studebaker as being a peach of a car>

Origin of PEACH

Middle English peche, from Anglo-French pesche, peche (the fruit), from Late Latin persica, from Latin (malum) persicum, literally, Persian fruit

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PEACH

Synonyms

beaut, beauty, bee's knees, cat's meow, corker, crackerjack (also crackajack), daisy, dandy, dilly, doozy (or doozie also doozer), dream, honey, hot stuff, humdinger, hummer, knockout, lollapalooza, lulu [slang], nifty, jim–dandy, pip, pippin, ripper, ripsnorter, snorter, sockdolager (or sockdologer), standout, sweetheart

Related Words

marvel, phenomenon, prodigy, sensation, wonder; catch, crown jewel, diamond, gem, imperial, jewel, pearl, plum, treasure

Near Antonyms

bust, disappointment, dud, failure, flop, lemon, letdown, loser, stinker, turkey

Rhymes with PEACH

beach, beech, bleach, breach, breech, each, leach, leech, pleach, preach, reach, screech, speech, teach

²peach

verb

Definition of PEACH

transitive verb

: to inform against : betray

intransitive verb

: to turn informer : blab

Origin of PEACH

Middle English pechen, short for apechen to accuse, from Anglo-French apecher, empecher to ensnare — more at impeach

First Known Use: 1560

peach

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Peach (Prunus persica).—Grant Heilman Photography

Small to medium-sized fruit tree (Prunus persica) of the rose family, grown throughout the warmer temperate regions of both hemispheres, and the fruit it produces. It probably originated in China and spread westward. Peach trees are intolerant of severe cold but require winter chilling to induce spring growth. The long, pointed leaves are glossy green and lance-shaped. Pink or white flowers grow singly or clustered. The fleshy, juicy exterior of the fruit is edible; the hard interior is called the stone or pit. In freestone types, stones separate easily from ripe flesh; in clingstone types, the flesh adheres firmly to the stone. Thousands of varieties have been developed. Peach skin is downy or fuzzy; smooth-skinned peaches are nectarines. Peaches are widely eaten fresh and are baked in desserts. Canned peaches are a staple commodity in many regions. Related plants include almond, plum, and cherry.