plural cherries
1
a
: any of numerous trees and shrubs (genus Prunus) of the rose family that bear pale yellow to deep red or blackish smooth-skinned drupes enclosing a smooth seed and that include some cultivated for their fruits or ornamental flowers compare sour cherry, sweet cherry
b
: the fruit of a cherry
c
: the reddish-brown wood of a cherry
especially
: black cherry sense 2
2
: a variable color averaging a moderate red
4
informal
: the burning end of a lit cigarette or cigar
I'm horrified: Dag is burning holes in the roof of the car with the cherry of his cigarette.—
Douglas Coupland
Douglas Coupland"Oh lord. Be quiet and maybe he won't find me. Put out your cigarette, Ryder, he'll see the cherry."—Julie Buntin
Julie BuntinExamples of cherry in a Sentence
The kitchen cabinets are made of cherry.
Recent Examples on the Web
The nose is captivating with aromas of brown sugar, caramel corn, and vanilla mingle with wood and a hint of cherry.
—Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Oct. 2025
Still sporting that same cherry-red hair — and quick as ever to flirt with her fans — the 72-year-old actress is better known as her character, Columbia.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2025
The edit features a suede blazer and matching shorts, a cherry lacquer argyle cardigan, and a chocolate sheer shirt paired with a coordinating skirt.
—Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025
Named after the beloved child star, the Shirley Temple has been a staple at family gatherings, diners, and soda fountains for decades, instantly recognizable for its cherry-red hue.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cherry
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Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Oct. 2025
Still sporting that same cherry-red hair — and quick as ever to flirt with her fans — the 72-year-old actress is better known as her character, Columbia.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2025
The edit features a suede blazer and matching shorts, a cherry lacquer argyle cardigan, and a chocolate sheer shirt paired with a coordinating skirt.
—Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025
Named after the beloved child star, the Shirley Temple has been a staple at family gatherings, diners, and soda fountains for decades, instantly recognizable for its cherry-red hue.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cherry
Cite this Entry
“Cherry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cherry. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cherry
noun
cher·ry
ˈcher-ē 
plural cherries
1
a
: any of numerous trees and shrubs that are related to the roses and have rather small pale yellow to deep blackish red smooth-skinned fruits
b
: the fruit of a cherry
c
: the reddish brown wood of a cherry
2
: a medium red
Etymology
Middle English chery "a cherry," from early French cherise "the cherry" (mistaken as being a plural), derived from Latin cerasus "cherry tree"
Medical Definition
cherry
noun
cher·ry
ˈcher-ē
plural cherries
1
: any of numerous trees and shrubs (genus Prunus) of the rose family that bear pale yellow to deep red or blackish smooth-skinned drupes enclosing a smooth seed and that belong to any of several varieties including some cultivated for their fruits or ornamental flowers
2
: the fruit of a cherry
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