ENGLISH
REFERENCE

blackberry

n. countable
A2 Elementary US //ˈbɫækˌbɛɹi// UK //blˈækbəɹi// black·ber·ry Dialect Informal

n. a small, dark purple or black fruit that grows on bushes with thorns. It is sweet and juicy, and people often use it to make jam or pies.

n. the edible fruit of various species in the genus Rubus, typically appearing as a dark purple or black aggregate drupelet. Often found growing wild on thorny brambles.


SIMPLE

We picked a bowl of fresh blackberries from the garden.

CONTEXTUAL

The children spent the afternoon gathering blackberries along the edge of the woods to bake a crumble.

COMPLEX

While the wild blackberry is prized for its intense flavor, commercial varieties are often bred for larger size and the absence of thorns to facilitate easier harvesting.

Origin

From Middle English blakberie, blakeberie (“brambleberry”), from Old English blacu berġe, blæcberġe (attested in plural blaca berġan, equivalent to black + berry.

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