raspberry

noun

rasp·​ber·​ry ˈraz-ˌber-ē 

-b(ə-)rē

1

a

: any of various usually black or red edible berries that are aggregate fruits consisting of numerous small drupes on a fleshy receptacle and that are usually rounder and smaller than the closely related blackberries

b

: a perennial plant (genus Rubus) of the rose family that bears raspberries

2

[short for raspberry tart, rhyming slang for fart] : a sound of contempt made by protruding the tongue between the lips and expelling air forcibly to produce a vibration

broadly : an expression of disapproval or contempt

Illustration of raspberry

Synonyms of raspberry

• snort

Examples of raspberry in a Sentence

One of the children made a raspberry at him.

there were raspberries from the audience when the hapless actress kept forgetting her lines

Recent Examples on the Web

The boysenberry, a Knott’s creation, is a delight, a sort of midpoint between a blackberry and a raspberry, although sweeter than both. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026

Save for a little mascara and light pink blush, the only makeup that appeared to grace Anderson’s face was a glossy raspberry lip. — Arushi Jacob, Footwear News, 3 Nov. 2026

Delicate produce like raspberries, blueberries, herbs and soft tomatoes can bruise under aggressive scrubbing, so University of Minnesota Extension suggests turning them gently in a colander while spraying them with cool water. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026

Depending on the lighting, the gem can shift from bluish-green in daylight to raspberry-purple or reddish hues under incandescent light. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 3 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

English dialect rasp raspberry + English berry

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing raspberry

• black raspberry

Rhymes for raspberry

• askari
• astbury
• azeri
• banbury
• barberry
• blackberry
• blueberry
• canary
• cranberry
• dentary
• dewberry
• dogberry

Kids Definition

raspberry

noun

rasp·​ber·​ry ˈraz-ˌber-ē 

-b(ə-)rē

1

a

: any of various black or red edible berries that are rounder and smaller than the related blackberries

b

: a usually prickly plant that produces raspberries

2

: a sound of scorn made by sticking out the tongue and blowing hard so as to make it vibrate