English Reference
noun · adjective

peach

n. · adj.
US /ˈpitʃ/ UK /pˈiːtʃ/ peach UK spelling peach's, peached, peaches, peaching

  1. 01 A2 Elementary Cooking

    n.a round, juicy fruit with a large seed in the middle and soft, fuzzy skin.

    n.the edible stone fruit of the Prunus persica tree, characterized by its downy skin and sweet yellow or white flesh.

    Simple

    She bought a basket of ripe peaches from the local market for the pie.

    In context

    The orchard produces several varieties of peach, ranging from the traditional fuzzy-skinned types to smoother nectarine hybrids.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    n.a pale orange-pink colour, like the skin of the fruit.

    n.a light, yellowish-pink or pale orange colour resembling the skin of a ripe peach.

    Simple

    The walls of the nursery were painted a soft peach to make the room feel warm.

    In context

    The sunset bathed the horizon in shades of peach and violet, creating a striking contrast against the darkening sea.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    n.someone or something that is very nice, helpful, or attractive.

    n.an informal term for a person or thing that is particularly admirable, pleasing, or helpful.

    Simple

    Thanks for helping me move those heavy boxes; you're a real peach.

    In context

    The new assistant has been an absolute peach, managing the complex scheduling conflicts with remarkable grace and efficiency.

  4. 04 B1 Intermediate

    adj.having a pale orange-pink colour.

    adj.of the colour peach; used to describe surfaces or fabrics of a pale yellowish-pink hue.

    Simple

    She wore a peach dress to the summer wedding.

    In context

    The interior designer suggested peach curtains to complement the natural wood flooring and brighten the north-facing lounge.

    pinkishorange pink

Etymology 1

Etymology tree Old Persian 𐎱𐎠𐎼𐎿 (p-a-r-s)bor. Ancient Greek Πέρσης (Pérsēs)der. Late Latin Persa Late Latin persicus Late Latin persicum Late Latin persica Vulgar Latin *pessica Old French peschebor. Middle English peche English peach From Middle English peche, borrowed from Old French pesche (French pêche), Vulgar Latin *pessica (cf. Medieval Latin pesca) from Late Latin persica, from Classical Latin mālum persicum, from Ancient Greek μᾶλον περσικόν (mâlon persikón, “Persian apple”). Displaced Middle English persogʒe, from Old English persoc, from the same Latin root above.

Etymology 2

From Middle English pechen, from apechen (“to accuse”) and empechen (“to accuse”), possibly from Anglo-Norman anpecher, from Late Latin impedicō (“entangle”). See impeach.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Ancient Greek μᾶλον περσικόν
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Frequent
Updated