cherry

noun

cher·​ry ˈcher-ē 

ˈche-rē

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 sense 2

2

: a variable color averaging a moderate red

3

informal

a

: hymen

b

: virginity

4

informal : the burning end of a lit cigarette or cigar

I'm horrified: Dag is burning holes in the roof of the car with the cherry of his cigarette.

—Douglas Coupland

"Oh lord. Be quiet and maybe he won't find me. Put out your cigarette, Ryder, he'll see the cherry."

—Julie Buntin

cherrylike

ˈcher-ē-ˌlīk 

ˈche-rē-

adjective

Examples of cherry in a Sentence

The kitchen cabinets are made of cherry.

Recent Examples on the Web

And you’ll be treated to a lush habitat of native plants, including prickly phlox, chaparral yucca, black sage, hollyleaf cherry and Coulter’s Matilija poppy. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

In May, officials in Kern County alone also reported a 42% loss in cherry production this year due to a hot stretch in March followed by April rain accounting for a total loss of more than $13 million for growers. — Jonathan Destler, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026

The filling is made with whole cherries picked at peak ripeness, along with sugar and a hint of lemon to create a sweet-tart flavor. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 25 Aug. 2026

In 1970, her photograph of a bowl of maraschino cherries appeared on the cover of his first solo album (the same photo is among the images featured on the new stamps). — Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 24 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing cherry

• bing cherry
• black cherry
• cherry bomb
• cherry-pick
• cherry picker
• cherry tomato
• ground-cherry
• Jerusalem cherry
• sour cherry
• sweet cherry

Rhymes for cherry

• aerie
• airy
• arie
• barre
• clary
• dairy
• eyrie
• faerie
• faery
• fairy
• ferry
• hairy

Kids Definition

cherry

noun

cher·​ry ˈcher-ē 

plural cherries

1

a

: any of numerous trees and shrubs that are related to the roses and have rather small pale yellow to deep blackish red smooth-skinned fruits

b

: the fruit of a cherry

c

: the reddish brown wood of a cherry

2

: a medium red

Etymology

Middle English chery "a cherry," from early French cherise "the cherry" (mistaken as being a plural), derived from Latin cerasus "cherry tree"

Medical Definition

cherry

noun

cher·​ry ˈcher-ē 

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