fruit

1 of 2

noun

ˈfrüt 

plural fruits

often attributive

1

a

: a product of plant growth (such as grain, vegetables, or cotton)

the fruits of the field

b(1)

: the usually edible reproductive body of a seed plant

especially : one having a sweet pulp associated with the seed

the fruit of the tree

(2)

: a succulent (see succulent entry 1 sense 1c) plant part (such as the petioles (see petiole sense 1) of a rhubarb plant) used chiefly in a dessert or sweet course

c

: a dish, quantity, or diet of fruits

live on fruit

d

: a product of fertilization (see fertilization sense b) in a plant with its modified envelopes or appendages

specifically : the ripened ovary (see ovary sense 2) of a seed plant and its contents

e

: the flavor or aroma of fresh fruit in mature wine

The wine's fruit is rich in tangerine, apricot, and papaya flavors.

2

: offspring, progeny

the fruit of the womb

3

a

: the state of bearing fruit

a tree in fruit

b

: the effect or consequence of an action or operation : product, result

the fruits of our labor

the fruits of victory

4

slang, offensive : a gay person

—used as a term of abuse and disparagement

fruited

ˈfrü-təd 

adjective

fruit

2 of 2

verb

fruited; fruiting; fruits

intransitive verb

: to bear fruit

transitive verb

: to cause to bear fruit

Synonyms

Noun

• aftereffect
• aftermath
• backwash
• child
• conclusion
• consequence
• corollary
• development
• effect
• fate
• issue
• outcome
• outgrowth
• precipitate
• product
• result
• resultant
• sequel
• sequence
• upshot

Examples of fruit in a Sentence

Noun

apples, oranges, and other fruits

one fruit of your faithfulness in carrying out your duties will be more rewarding responsibilities

Verb

When will the trees fruit?

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The hanging fruits had been emblazoned with the letters of the Black sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. —Veronica Hilbring, Essence.com, 11 July 2017

My feeling is generally in the case of summer fruit pies, if things are in season and at their peak bounty, why be skimpy? —Rick Martinez, Bon Appetit, 8 July 2017

Verb

Questions started swirling in my head: How could fruit grown in this region possibly be safe? —Kate Graham-Shaw, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2024

Phillips suggests including fruiting shrubs to feed birds, from choke cherry (Prunus virginiana) and staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) to native viburnums. —Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English fruit, frute, froyte, fructe, borrowed from Anglo-French fruit, frut (also continental Old French), going back to Latin frūctus "pleasurable possession (of something), right to enjoy the profits (of something), useful products of nature, fruit, profit, advantage," from frūg-, base of fruor, fruī "to enjoy the produce or proceeds of, derive advantage from, be blessed with, derive pleasure from" (probably going back to *frūu̯ōr < *frūi̯ōr < *frūgi̯ōr, from a dialectal Indo-European verbal base *b^hruHg- "enjoy, use") + -tus, suffix of action nouns — more at brook entry 2

Note: Though the derivation of fruor from frūg- is uncontested, the sequence of shifts that led to the loss of -g- is uncertain.

Verb

Middle English fruiten, derivative of fruit fruit entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing fruit

• accessory fruit
• bear fruit
• dragon fruit
• fleshy fruit
• forbidden fruit
• fruit bat
• fruit cup
• fruit fly
• fruit machine
• fruit sugar
• low-hanging fruit
• Mediterranean fruit fly
• miracle fruit
• oriental fruit moth
• passion fruit
• prickly pear fruit
• soft fruit
• star fruit
• stone fruit

Kids Definition

fruit

1 of 2 noun

ˈfrüt 

1

: a usually useful product of plant growth (as grain)

fruits of the earth

2

a

: a product of fertilization in a plant with its coverings or associated parts

especially : the ripened ovary of a seed plant (as the pod of a pea, a nut, a grain, or a berry) with or without the attached parts

b

: the ripened ovary of a seed plant (as an apple or raspberry) when sweet and pulpy

c

: a juicy plant part (as the stalk of a rhubarb) used chiefly as a dessert

3

: result entry 2 sense 1, product

the fruits of our labors

fruited

-əd 

adjective

fruit

2 of 2 verb

: to bear or cause to bear fruit

Medical Definition

fruit

noun

ˈfrüt 

often attributive

1

: the usually edible reproductive body of a seed plant

especially : one having a sweet pulp associated with the seed

the fruit of the tree

2

: a product of fertilization in a plant with its modified envelopes or appendages

specifically : the ripened ovary of a seed plant and its contents

Legal Definition

fruit

noun

1

a

: something (as evidence) that is obtained or gathered during an action or operation (as a search)

moved to suppress evidence seized from the room on the grounds that it was obtained as the fruit of an illegal arrest

—National Law Journal

b

plural : fruit of the poisonous tree

the Court was asked to extend the…fruit doctrine

—Oregon v. Elstad, 470 U.S. 298 (1985)

2

a

in the civil law of Louisiana : property (as income or goods) produced by or derived from other movable or immovable property without diminution of its substance

co-owners share the fruits and products of the thing held

—Louisiana Civil Code

compare product sense 3

— civil fruit

: the revenue derived from property especially by virtue of an obligation (as a lease)

— natural fruit

: an animal or plant product (as a crop)

b

: income that is produced or earned by other property or services