cherry

noun cher·ry \ ˈcher-ē , ˈche-rē \

|Updated on: 3 Aug 2018

Definition of cherry

plural cherries

1 a : any of numerous trees and shrubs (genus Prunus) of the rose family that bear pale yellow to deep red or blackish smooth-skinned drupes enclosing a smooth seed and that include some cultivated for their fruits or ornamental flowers — compare sour cherry, sweet cherry

b : the fruit of a cherry

c : the reddish-brown wood of a cherry; especially : black cherry 2

2 : a variable color averaging a moderate red

3 a : hymen

b : virginity

—

cherrylike

play \-ˌlīk\ adjective

See cherry defined for English-language learners

See cherry defined for kids

Examples of cherry in a Sentence

The kitchen cabinets are made of cherry.

Recent Examples of cherry from the Web

And Chinese customs officers ordered a load of U.S. cherries into quarantine for a week in a coastal southeast China province, causing them to spoil.

— jim puzzanghera, latimes.com, "After Trump's new tariff threat, China may either have to blink or widen the trade war," 11 July 2018
Ripening of coffee cherries in higher elevation fincas starts around November.

— lauren mowery, USA TODAY, "Costa Rican coffee, from rural farms to Starbucks' visitor center," 26 June 2018
The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of cherries protect against muscle damage and accelerate recovery, Nalder says.

— sara angle, Outside Online, "Athletes, Stock Up on This Powerhouse Summer Produce," 22 June 2018
John Freeman stopped by for a cup of wild cherry for his wife, brushing snow from his gloves and beanie.

— bethany ao, Philly.com, "These people braved the nor'easter for a Philly tradition: free Rita's Water Ice," 20 Mar. 2018
In this photo provided by Jen Guyton, a worker, background, with a bag of fertiliser on his back, passes coffee plants with green cherries, at Mount Gorongosa, in Mozambique.

— Washington Post, "Coffee and conservation: Mozambique tries both on a mountain," 11 July 2018
When the restaurant first opened in late 2016, its sour cream vanilla cheesecake with cherries jubilee ($10.95), a modern take on the classic fruit dessert set on fire, was rolled out on a cart and then blazed tableside with rum, brandy and nutmeg.

— louisa chu, chicagotribune.com, "Conjuring the dessert cart, one fantastical bite at a time," 25 June 2018
Hennessey made a winning coffee sponge cake with cherry and lemon curd and took home $10,000 and serious bragging rights.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Spoiler alert: This New England chef made the cut on ‘Chopped’," 29 May 2018
Tempura — baby seabass, sea eel, spidery chrysanthemum leaves — with cherry blossom salt?

— jonathan gold, latimes.com, "Jonathan Gold takes a look at the art of sushi as practiced at Shiki Beverly Hills," 9 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of cherry

Middle English chery, from Anglo-French cherise, cirice (taken as a plural), from Late Latin ceresia, from Latin cerasus cherry tree, from Greek kerasos

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

CHERRY Defined for English Language Learners

cherry

noun

Definition of cherry for English Language Learners

: a small round fruit that is usually red or black
: a tree on which this fruit grows
: the wood of a cherry tree

CHERRY Defined for Kids

cherry

noun cher·ry \ ˈcher-ē \

Definition of cherry for Students

plural cherries

1 : the small round yellow to deep red smooth-skinned fruit of a tree that is related to the plum tree

2 : a medium red

Medical Dictionary

cherry

noun cher·ry \ ˈcher-ē \

medical Definition of cherry

plural cherries

1 : any of numerous trees and shrubs (genus Prunus) of the rose family that bear pale yellow to deep red or blackish smooth-skinned drupes enclosing a smooth seed and that belong to any of several varieties including some cultivated for their fruits or ornamental flowers

2 : the fruit of a cherry