persimmon

noun

per·​sim·​mon pər-ˈsi-mən 

1

: any of a genus (Diospyros) of trees of the ebony family with hard fine wood, oblong leaves, and small bell-shaped flowers

especially : an eastern U.S. tree (D. virginiana) or a Japanese tree (D. kaki)

2

: the usually orange several-seeded globular berry of a persimmon that is edible when fully ripe but usually extremely astringent when unripe

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Slice each persimmon in half lengthwise, and then slice each half into six wedges. —People Staff, Peoplemag, 16 Nov. 2022

Too early to tell How do persimmon seeds help forecast winter weather? —Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 10 Nov. 2022

Its hull was painted a cheerful persimmon color, and its bow was conspicuously higher than the rest of the ship, with a curved shape suggesting that icebreakers don’t so much carve through ice as climb and crush, climb and crush. —David W. Brown, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2022

Slice off the persimmon stem, and place cut-side down on a cutting board. —People Staff, Peoplemag, 16 Nov. 2022

Base notes include sweet and fruity persimmon and inviting Indonesian patchouli, which grounds the bright fragrance. —Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 Nov. 2022

But as the top notes begin to fade, a masculine, woody aroma of rosemary, sweet persimmon and warm patchouli envelops you. —Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 4 Nov. 2022

The pillow is available in coastal blue, natural, persimmon, and chartreuse, all of which feature a delicate eyelash fringe along the sides. —Jennifer Carmichael, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Oct. 2022

Near a Fuji apple and a persimmon tree, kale, tomatoes, and peppers thrive. —Deanna Kizis, Sunset Magazine, 6 Oct. 2022

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Word History

Etymology

Virginia Algonquian pessemmin

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

persimmon

noun

per·​sim·​mon pər-ˈsim-ən 

1

: any of a genus of trees with hard fine wood, oblong leaves, and small bell-shaped white flowers

2

: the usually orange fruit of a persimmon that resembles a plum and is edible when fully ripe but usually very bitter when unripe

Medical Definition

persimmon

noun

per·​sim·​mon pər-ˈsim-ən 

1

: any tree or shrub of the genus Diospyros

especially : one (D. virginiana) of the eastern United States whose bark has been used as an astringent

2

: the usually orange globular berry of a persimmon that is edible when fully ripe but usually extremely astringent when unripe