# mulberry

/ˈməɫˌbɛɹi/ (US) · /mˈʌlbəɹi/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mulberry
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a small, sweet fruit that looks like a long blackberry and grows on a tree. The leaves of this tree are also famous because they are the main food for silkworms.

For teachers: the edible, aggregate fruit of several trees in the genus Morus, typically dark purple, red, or white when ripe. Often associated with sericulture, as the foliage serves as the primary food source for silkworms.

## Examples

- We picked a bowl of ripe mulberries from the tree in the garden.
- The sidewalk was stained dark purple where the overhanging mulberry tree had dropped its ripe fruit.
- While the fruit is prized for its sweetness in preserves, the white mulberry was historically imported to Europe and North America in failed attempts to establish a domestic silk industry.

## Usage notes

- The fruit is countable; the wood or the tree species can be used uncountably in botanical or material contexts.

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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.