raspberry

noun

rasp·​ber·​ry ˈraz-ˌber-ē 

-b(ə-)rē

1

a

: any of various usually black or red edible berries that are aggregate fruits consisting of numerous small drupes on a fleshy receptacle and that are usually rounder and smaller than the closely related blackberries

b

: a perennial plant (genus Rubus) of the rose family that bears raspberries

2

[short for raspberry tart, rhyming slang for fart] : a sound of contempt made by protruding the tongue between the lips and expelling air forcibly to produce a vibration

broadly : an expression of disapproval or contempt

Illustration of raspberry

Synonyms

• snort

Examples of raspberry in a Sentence

One of the children made a raspberry at him.

there were raspberries from the audience when the hapless actress kept forgetting her lines

Recent Examples on the Web

The pair spent time poolside and rang in her birthday celebration with a chocolate cake covered in raspberries, cherries and redcurrants. —Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 15 Aug. 2025

Punch up your look with a pinkish raspberry, or opt for strawberry or cranberry shades for a truer red. —Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2025

After tasting some seductive old-barrel brandies, I got swept up, unexpectedly, in an exquisite gin made from the same apples and layered with raspberries and lemon. —Adam Erace, Travel + Leisure, 12 Aug. 2025

Order the Prairie Rose – with gin, Campari and raspberry syrup, topped with egg whites – for a nod to the bar’s logo and Iowa state flower, or try the Karate Kick – a vodka drink with Ancho Reyes, carrot and ginger – for something that feels healthy with a kick. —USA Today, 30 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

English dialect rasp raspberry + English berry

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing raspberry

• black raspberry

Rhymes for raspberry

• askari
• astbury
• azeri
• banbury
• barberry
• blackberry
• blueberry
• canary
• cranberry
• dentary
• dewberry
• dogberry

Kids Definition

raspberry

noun

rasp·​ber·​ry ˈraz-ˌber-ē 

-b(ə-)rē

1

a

: any of various black or red edible berries that are rounder and smaller than the related blackberries

b

: a usually prickly plant that produces raspberries

2

: a sound of scorn made by sticking out the tongue and blowing hard so as to make it vibrate