pomegranate

noun

pome·​gran·​ate ˈpä-mə-ˌgra-nət 

ˈpäm-ˌgra-nət,

ˈpəm- 

1

: a several-celled reddish berry that is about the size of an orange with a thick leathery skin and many seeds with pulpy crimson arils of tart flavor

2

: a widely cultivated tropical Asian tree (Punica granatum of the family Punicaceae) bearing pomegranates

Illustration of pomegranate

Examples of pomegranate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This Pinot Noir is light garnet in color with aromas of strawberry, cinnamon, and pomegranate. —Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2024

Lamb Chops With Minty Pea Puree and Pomegranate Minty peas and sweet-tart pomegranate are a great complement for gamy lamb chops. —Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024

There is a legend that says there are as many seeds in a pomegranate as there are commandments in the Torah, the Bible of the Jewish people, known to many others as the Old Testament. —Jamaica Kincaid, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024

Don’t fertilize fig trees, pomegranate, pineapple guava, tropical guava and loquat, but do mulch them with a 3-inch or thicker layer of coarse wood mulch. —Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024

The formula is spiked with hyaluronic acid to moisturize, plus ginseng and pomegranate extracts to condition and nourish hair and scalp. —Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024

The roast was served alongside corn pudding, caviar, Brussels sprouts, Yorkshire pudding and a radicchio pomegranate salad. —Ana Calderone, Peoplemag, 26 Dec. 2023

Fruiting trees and shrubs As the weather warms, restart watering deciduous fruit trees: pomegranate, apricot, peach, apple, etc. —Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024

The farm also grows ice cream beans, persimmons, pomegranates, passion fruit, dragon fruit, cherimoyas and caviar limes in soil that has become more fertile from the biodiversity of crops. —Julie Wolfson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English poumgrenet, from Anglo-French pome garnette, literally, seedy fruit

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pomegranate

noun

pome·​gran·​ate ˈpäm-(ə-)ˌgran-ət  ˈpəm-ˌgran- 

: a reddish fruit about the size of an orange that has a thick leathery skin and many seeds in a pulp of tart flavor

also : a tropical Asian tree that produces pomegranates

Etymology

Middle English poumgrenet "pomegranate," from early French pomme garnette "pomegranate," literally, "seedy fruit"; pomme from earlier pome "apple" and grenate derived from Latin granum "grain, seed" — related to garnet, grain, grenade see Word History at garnet

Medical Definition

pomegranate

noun

pome·​gran·​ate ˈpäm-(ə-)ˌgran-ət  ˈpəm-ˌgran- 

1

: a tart thick-skinned several-celled reddish berry that is about the size of an orange

2

: a widely cultivated tropical Old World tree (Punica granatum of the family Punicaceae) bearing pomegranates and having bark and roots which were formerly used in dried form as a taeniacide