English Reference
noun · verb

berry

n. · v.
US /ˈbɛɹi/ UK /bˈɛɹi/ berry UK spelling berries, berry's

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    n.a small, soft, juicy fruit that you can eat, like a strawberry or blueberry.

    n.a small, succulent fruit of any variety, typically edible and growing on a bush or herbaceous plant.

    Simple

    We picked a bowl of fresh berries from the garden for breakfast.

    In context

    The hikers spent the afternoon gathering wild berries, being careful to avoid the varieties known to be toxic to humans.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Technical Science

    n.the scientific name for a fruit that grows from one flower part and has seeds inside.

    n.a fleshy fruit produced from a single ovary, where the entire outer layer of the ovary wall ripens into a potentially edible pericarp.

    Simple

    Did you know that a banana is technically a berry but a strawberry is not?

    In context

    In botanical terms, the tomato is classified as a berry because it develops from a single ovary and contains multiple seeds within its pulp.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Technical

    n.a name sometimes used for a coffee bean before it is roasted.

    n.a term used within the coffee industry to refer to the fruit or the seed of the coffee plant.

    Simple

    The quality of the coffee depends on how the berries are harvested.

    In context

    The pickers carefully selected only the deep red berries, ensuring that the resulting coffee would have a superior flavour profile.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate

    v.to go out and look for berries to pick and eat.

    v.to gather or harvest berries from the wild or a cultivated area.

    Simple

    Every summer, the family goes berrying in the hills behind their house.

    In context

    They spent the entire weekend berrying, eventually returning with enough fruit to make several dozen jars of preserves.

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Frequent
Updated