cherimoya

noun cher·i·moya \ ˌcher-ə-ˈmȯi-ə \

variants: or less commonly chirimoya play \ˌchir-\

Updated on: 21 May 2018

Definition of cherimoya

: a round, oblong, or heart-shaped fruit with a pitted pale green rind that is borne by a widely cultivated tropical American tree (Annona cherimola) of the custard-apple family; also : this tree

Recent Examples of cherimoya from the Web

One example is the cherimoya, a species of custard apple.

— kiona n. smith, Ars Technica, "Pre-Columbian people spread fruit species across Latin America," 13 Mar. 2018
Its relatives include cherimoya, soursop (guanábana), and sweetsop.

— andrew moore, Good Housekeeping, "A Beginner's Guide To Growing Pawpaw—The Delicious Fruit You're Not Eating," 12 Jan. 2018
New Yorkers welcomed speckled Asian pears; papaya with its lode of dripping black seeds; rough-skinned litchi disclosing creamy white flesh; knobby cherimoya with guts of custard; star fruit with its sharp angles and plasticized shine.

— New York Times, "How the Kiwi Changed New York’s Food Scene," 16 Apr. 2018
Oddly shaped and covered with a leathery green skin, Noelle thinks cherimoya look more like prehistoric eggs than tropical fruit.

— latimes.com, "Italian dreams, video games and the Dodgers," 31 Mar. 2018
What's in season: Oddly-shaped and covered with a leathery green skin marked with large indentations, the mounds of cherimoya at the markets right now might at first glance look like prehistoric eggs, or even hand grenades.

— noelle carter, latimes.com, "Tarts, cocktails, gelato and more ideas for cherimoya, now in season," 30 Mar. 2018
The season for cherimoya, first planted in California in 1871, generally ranges from early through late spring.

— noelle carter, latimes.com, "Tarts, cocktails, gelato and more ideas for cherimoya, now in season," 30 Mar. 2018
There is a fruit called a Bays cherimoya, pioneered by Gene's grandpa; only collectors eat or grow them anymore.

— mike sager, Esquire, "Growing Almonds in the Desert," 25 Feb. 2015
Vinny Dotolo bursts through the backdoor and stops to chat about his latest idea for a cherimoya dessert at Animal (simply sliced with a squeeze of lime).

— gillian ferguson, Bon Appetit, "This Might Be the Best Food Gig Ever," 8 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cherimoya.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of cherimoya

Spanish chirimoya

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First Known Use: 1736

in the meaning defined above

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See words that rhyme with cherimoya Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cherimoya

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cherimoya

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