heirloom

noun heir·loom \ ˈer-ˌlüm \

Definition of heirloom

1 :a piece of property (such as a deed or charter) that descends to the heir as an inseparable part of an inheritance of real property

2 :something of special value handed down from one generation to another

The pin she's wearing is a family heirloom.

3 :a variety of plant that has originated under cultivation and that has survived for several generations usually due to the efforts of private individuals

heirloom tomatoes

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Recent Examples of heirloom from the Web

Kuzniewicz: Garlic, heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil, onions and peaches.

— david sharos, Naperville Sun, "Chef's Choice: Pancake Cafe owner honed his skills with Emeril Lagasse," 24 Aug. 2017
Wood has decorated the house with a meticulous attention to detail, using family heirlooms, custom furniture, internet finds and unique pieces that simply seemed to belong here.

— mary colurso, AL.com, "Cool Spaces: Century-old farmhouse gleams after loving family restoration," 9 Aug. 2017
One miss: Smoked heirloom tomatoes with black olive oil.

— kathleen purvis, charlotteobserver, "4 hits and 1 miss on the menu at South End’s new Suffolk Punch," 3 Aug. 2017
Get true unripe green tomatoes, not green heirlooms, which are too delicate to grill.

— anya tchoupakov, Bon Appetit, "17 Tomato Recipes That Taste Like Summer in Every Bite," 30 July 2017
The heirloom tomato salad with jalapenos and feta is an absolute must.

— rae witte, Esquire, "These Are New York's 5 Best Hotel Pools," 28 July 2017
My decor is a mix of family heirlooms, my art, and memories.

— elizabeth finkelstein, Country Living, "Peek Inside the Coziest Log Farmhouse for Sale in Georgia," 27 July 2017
The charred eggplant enchiladas are crafted from heirloom-corn tortillas.

— garrett snyder, Los Angeles Magazine, "The Los Angeles Magazine Hot Restaurant List for July 2017," 18 July 2017
Not all snap beans are green, and most modern varieties no longer have inedible strings holding together pods (although heirloom string beans still do).

— debbie arrington, sacbee, "Summer menus a snap with these green beans," 18 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of heirloom

Middle English heirlome, from heir + lome implement — more at loom

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

Other Agriculture/Gardening Terms

fallow, graft, loam, potash, soilage, swath, tilth, windfall

HEIRLOOM Defined for English Language Learners

heirloom

noun

Definition of heirloom for English Language Learners

: a valuable object that is owned by a family for many years and passed from one generation to another
: an old type of plant that is still available because individual people have continued to grow it for many years

HEIRLOOM Defined for Kids

heirloom

noun heir·loom \ ˈer-ˌlüm \

Definition of heirloom for Students

:a piece of personal property handed down in a family from one generation to another

Learn More about heirloom

See words that rhyme with heirloom Spanish Central: Translation of heirloom Nglish: Translation of heirloom for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about heirloom

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heirloom

Definition of heirloom

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heirloom

Definition of heirloom for English Language Learners

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heirloom

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heirloom

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