fruit
fruit Lexical Profile
fruit Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The sweet and fleshy product of a tree or other plant that contains seed and can be eaten as food.
"She bought a basket of fresh fruit, including apples, oranges, and bananas, from the local market."
The positive result, outcome, or reward of work, effort, or activity.
"After years of difficult research, the team finally began to see the fruits of their labor."
The seed-bearing structure in angiosperms formed from the ovary after flowering.
"Botanically speaking, a tomato is classified as a fruit because it develops from the ovary of the flower."
• verb
To produce or bear fruit (especially of a tree or plant).
"The old apple tree in the backyard fruited heavily this summer despite the early drought."
Word Nuance & Usage
In culinary contexts, 'fruit' refers specifically to sweet or tart fleshy plant parts, whereas botanically it encompasses any seed-bearing structure, including many foods commonly called vegetables (like tomatoes, eggplants, and bell peppers).
• Rhymes for fruit
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'fruit', from Old French 'fruit', derived from Latin 'fructus' meaning 'enjoyment, proceeds, or produce', which comes from the verb 'frui' meaning 'to enjoy or use'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.