grape

noun

ˈgrāp 

often attributive

1

: a smooth-skinned juicy light green or deep red to purplish black berry eaten dried or fresh as a fruit or fermented to produce wine

2

: any of numerous woody vines (genus Vitis of the family Vitaceae, the grape family) that usually climb by tendrils, produce grapes, and are nearly cosmopolitan in cultivation

3

: grapeshot

grapelike

ˈgrāp-ˌlīk 

adjective

Examples of grape in a Sentence

a bunch of seedless grapes

Recent Examples on the Web

Archaeological digs have unearthed ancient Greek winemaking vessels, while fossilized remains of grape species found during other excavations date back to the 11th to 9th centuries BC. —Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025

How many varieties of grapes are there? —Daryl Austin, USA Today, 16 Nov. 2025

Other differences between red and green grapes include the concentration of health-boosting compounds, such as resveratrol and anthocyanins. —Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 14 Nov. 2025

While every budding wine geek worth their salt can easily reel off the names of all the grapes allowed in a Bordeaux blend, few realize that almost every single wine made in Bordeaux utilizes three at best: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. —Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 9 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French grape grape stalk, bunch of grapes, grape, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German krāpfo hook

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing grape

• Concord grape
• fox grape
• grape hyacinth
• grape sugar
• Oregon grape
• sea grape

Rhymes for grape

• ape
• cape
• crape
• crepe
• drape
• gape
• pape
• rape
• scape
• scrape
• shape
• snape

Kids Definition

grape

noun

ˈgrāp 

1

: a smooth-skinned juicy light green or deep red to purplish black berry eaten dried or fresh as a fruit or fermented to produce wine

2

: any of numerous woody vines widely grown for their bunches of grapes

3

: grapeshot

grapy

ˈgrā-pē

adjective