# grape

/ˈɡɹeɪp/ (US) · /ɡɹˈeɪp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/grape
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the fruit

noun · CEFR A1

a small, round, green or purple fruit that grows in bunches and is used to make wine.

For teachers: a small, succulent, smooth-skinned berry growing in clusters on vines of the genus Vitis.

- He bought a large bunch of red grapes to serve with the cheese.
- The vineyard produces several varieties of grapes, each selected for its specific sugar content and suitability for fermentation into dry white wine.

### 2. a colour

noun · CEFR B2

a dark purple or reddish-purple colour.

For teachers: a dark purplish-red hue resembling the skin of certain grape varieties.

- The walls of the dining room were painted a deep grape.
- The designer opted for a rich grape velvet for the upholstery to provide a sophisticated contrast against the pale oak flooring.

### 3. flavoured or coloured

adjective · CEFR A2

having the taste or the dark purple colour of grapes.

For teachers: containing grapes as an ingredient, or possessing a flavour or colour characteristic of the fruit.

- The children always choose the grape soda over the orange one.
- The confectioner used natural extracts to achieve an authentic grape flavour in the hard candies without relying on synthetic additives.

### 4. to be jealous

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

to feel jealous or envious of someone else.

For teachers: to experience or express envy toward another person's success or possessions; derived from the 'sour grapes' idiom.

- Don't grape just because she got a promotion and you didn't.
- The online community began to grape when the influencer revealed her luxury apartment, accusing her of being out of touch with her audience.

Teaching tip: This specific slang usage is particularly common in Hong Kong English and digital spaces influenced by it; it is rarely understood by speakers of other dialects.

## Examples

- I bought a bunch of sweet green grapes for lunch.
- The vineyard produces several varieties of grapes that are harvested by hand every autumn for winemaking.
- While many consumers prefer seedless grapes for convenience, traditional varieties often possess a more complex flavor profile and higher tannin content in their skins and seeds.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.