mulberry

noun

mul·​ber·​ry ˈməl-ˌber-ē 

-b(ə-)rē

1

: any of a genus (Morus of the family Moraceae, the mulberry family) of trees with an edible usually purple multiple fruit that is an aggregate of juicy one-seeded drupes

also : the fruit

2

: a dark purple or purplish black

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Made from 100% washable mulberry silk, this top-and-shorts combo also comes in a variety of colors and is also thermoregulating, which helps maintain a comfortable body temperature. —Natalie Alcala, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Oct. 2022

Liz Susman Karp writes about Falling Fruit’s sumptuous windfalls, from mulberries to cider apples, for Atlas Obscura. —Dakota Kim, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2023

Hints of black pepper on the nose with wild mushrooms and wildflowers in the background and good weight on the palate with fresh mulberry fruit and black cherries finishing with silky tannins. —Cathrine Todd, Forbes, 10 Nov. 2022

But white mulberry is also said to help with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, weight loss, the common cold, joint pain, and arthritis, among other conditions. —Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 25 Aug. 2022

Alder, birch and oak are the three top deciduous trees for causing allergies, though there are others, like mulberry. —Allison L. Steiner, The Conversation, 20 Apr. 2023

Ohio joins over 30% of the country with high pollen levels right now, with a combination of outgoing tree pollen like ash, mulberry, and oak and incoming grass pollen. —Zachary Smith, cleveland, 13 May 2022

In the first month after D-Day, the Allies unloaded about 6,750 tons of cargo a day at the Gold Beach mulberry. —Kiona N. Smith, Forbes, 6 June 2021

The black mulberry has been cultivated since antiquity, and is probably originally from China. —Discover Staff, Discover Magazine, 17 Mar. 2015

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English mulbere, mulbery, probably dissimilated from Old English *mūrberie, variant of mōrberie (with mūr- as in mūrbēam "mulberry tree"), from mūr- (borrowed from Medieval Latin mūrum, variant of Latin mōrum "black mulberry, blackberry," probably of Mediterranean substratal origin, as also Greek móron "black mulberry, blackberry," Armenian mor "blackberry") + berie berry entry 1

Note: The presumed dissimilated form represented by Middle English mulbere is paralleled by Middle Low German mūlbēre "mulberry" (next to mūrbēre), Old Saxon mūlbōm "mulberry tree" (in a gloss, next to mōrbōm), late Old High German mūlboum, mūlbere (in glosses, next to mūrberi, mōrberi, mūrboum). The assumption has been made that the Middle English word was borrowed from Middle Low German, though it seems more likely that dissimilated forms were passed northward through the West Germanic speech area—or developed independently—as the word diffused along with cultivation of the berry in the Carolingian period; cultivation of mulberries is mentioned in the late-8th-century Capitulare de villis dealing with the upkeep of Charlemagne's estates.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mulberry

• red mulberry
• paper mulberry
• Indian mulberry

• red mulberry
• paper mulberry
• Indian mulberry

Kids Definition

mulberry

noun

mul·​ber·​ry ˈməl-ˌber-ē 

1

: any of a genus of trees that have small edible usually purple fruits and leaves on which silkworms can be fed

also : the fruit of a mulberry

2

: a dark purple or purplish black

Medical Definition

mulberry

noun

mul·​ber·​ry ˈməl-ˌber-ē, -b(ə-)rē 

plural mulberries

: any of a genus (Morus of the family Moraceae, the mulberry family) of trees with an edible usually purple fruit that includes one (M. nigra) with a fruit whose juice is sometimes used for its medicinal properties

also : the fruit