fruit
n. · v.-
1 food (n.) A1 Beginnerthe part of a plant that has seeds and is often sweet, such as an orange or a grape.
the edible, usually sweet and fleshy, reproductive body of a seed plant.
ExampleWe always keep a bowl of fresh fruit on the kitchen table for the children.
ExampleThe tropical climate allows for a vast variety of fruit to be harvested throughout the calendar year.
UsageUsually uncountable when referring to food in general; countable when referring to specific botanical types.
PitfallI bought many fruits at the market.I bought a lot of fruit at the market.In everyday English, 'fruit' is usually uncountable when referring to it as a food group. Use 'fruits' only when discussing different botanical species.
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2 botany (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Sciencethe part of a flowering plant that contains the seeds.
the seed-bearing structure in angiosperms formed from the ovary after flowering.
ExampleThe botanist explained how the fruit protects the seeds as they grow.
ExampleIn botanical terms, a fruit is the ripened ovary of a flowering plant, regardless of whether it is edible or sweet.
UsageOften used countably in scientific contexts to describe different seed-bearing structures.
Teacher's tipRemind students that botanically, tomatoes and cucumbers are fruits, even though we treat them as vegetables in the kitchen.
- seedpod
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3 result (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatethe good result or reward that comes from hard work or an activity.
the result, outcome, or consequence of an action or effort, typically used in the plural.
ExampleAfter years of studying, she is finally enjoying the fruits of her hard work.
ExampleThe company is only now beginning to see the fruits of its long-term investment in renewable energy research.
UsageCommonly used in the plural form 'fruits' in the idiom 'the fruits of one's labour'.
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4 to produce fruit (v.) B2 Upper Intermediate Sciencewhen a plant or tree grows fruit.
to bear or produce fruit, seeds, or spores.
ExampleThe apple trees usually fruit in late summer.
ExampleThe orchard failed to fruit effectively this season due to an unexpected late frost that damaged the blossoms.
UsageIntransitive verb.
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5 offensive slang (n.) C1 Advanced Slang Vulgara very rude and old-fashioned word for a gay man.
a derogatory and offensive term for a male homosexual, particularly one perceived as effeminate.
ExampleThe character in the old movie used a cruel word like fruit to insult his rival.
ExampleThe use of the term fruit as a homophobic slur has largely declined in modern discourse but remains a potent symbol of mid-century prejudice.
UsageHighly offensive; used as a noun.
Teacher's tipStudents should be aware of this sense to understand older media or avoid accidental offense, but they should never use it themselves.
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰruHg- Proto-Italic *frūgjōr Latin fruor Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Italic *-tus Latin -tus Latin frūctus Old French fruitbor. Middle English fruyt English fruit From Middle English fruyt, frut (“fruits and vegetables”), from Old French fruit (“produce, fruits and vegetables”), from Latin frūctus (“enjoyment, proceeds, profits, produce, income”) and frūx (“crop, produce, fruit”) (compare Latin fruor (“have the benefit of, to use, to enjoy”)), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰruHg- (“to make use of, to have enjoyment of”). Cognate with English brook (“to bear, tolerate”) and German brauchen (“to need”). Displaced native Old English wæstm and Old English æppel. In the derogatory senses of “crazy person” and “homosexual or effeminate man”, possibly a shortening of fruitcake, or of independent origin, compare Fruit (slang).