accessory fruit

noun

: a fruit (such as the apple) of which a conspicuous part consists of tissue other than that of the ripened ovary

Word History

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of accessory fruit was in 1858

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Accessory fruit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accessory%20fruit. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

accessory fruit

noun

: a fruit (as the strawberry, apple, or fig) of which a conspicuous part consists of tissue other than that of the ripened ovary

More from Merriam-Webster

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

meritorious

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Popular in Wordplay

accessory fruit

noun

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on accessory fruit