raspberry

rasp·ber·ry

noun \ˈraz-ˌber-ē, -b(ə-)rē\

Definition of RASPBERRY

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

Examples of RASPBERRY

1. One of the children made a raspberry at him.
2. <there were raspberries from the audience when the hapless actress kept forgetting her lines>

Illustration of RASPBERRY

Origin of RASPBERRY

English dialect rasp raspberry + English berry

First Known Use: circa 1616

Related to RASPBERRY

Synonyms

bird [chiefly British], boo, Bronx cheer, hiss, hoot, jeer, catcall, razz, snort

Antonyms

cheer

Related Words

smirk, sneer, snicker, snigger; gibe (or jibe), put-down, taunt; whistle

Near Antonyms

applause, clapping

Rhymes with RASPBERRY

baneberry, barberry, bayberry, bearberry, bilberry, blackberry, black cherry, blaeberry, blueberry, Bradbury, bunchberry, Burberry, canary, chokeberry, chokecherry, cloudberry, contrary, costmary, cowberry, cranberry, crowberry, deerberry, equerry, gooseberry, ground-cherry, hackberry, Hail Mary, inkberry, Juneberry, knobkerrie, library, mulberry, nondairy, pokeberry, primary, rosemary, scalare, shadberry, snowberry, soapberry, strawberry, summary, sweet cherry, teaberry, tilbury, tooth fairy, twinberry, unwary, vagary, wheat berry, wolfberry, youngberry

raspberry

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis).—Grant Heilman Photography

Any of many species of fruit-bearing bushes of the genus Rubus in the rose family. When picked, the juicy red, purple, or black berry separates from a core, whereas in the related blackberry the core is part of the fruit. Both so-called berries are actually aggregate fruits. Red raspberries are propagated by suckers (see suckering) from the roots of the parent plant or from root cuttings. Black and purple varieties have arched canes and are propagated by layering of the shoot tips. Raspberries contain iron and vitamin C. They are eaten fresh and are also very popular in jams, as a pastry filling, and as a flavouring for liqueurs.