plum
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a round, sweet fruit with smooth skin and a hard seed in the middle.
n.the edible drupaceous fruit of various trees in the genus Prunus, typically having a smooth skin and a single hard stone.
Simple“She picked a ripe plum from the tree and ate it immediately.”
In context“The orchard was heavy with fruit, the branches of the plum trees sagging under the weight of the ripening harvest.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.something very good that people want, like a great job or a prize.
n.a highly desirable position, prize, or opportunity, often obtained through luck or influence.
Simple“He landed a plum job at the new tech company in the city.”
In context“The senior partner secured a plum assignment in the Paris office, much to the envy of his younger colleagues.”
Teacher's tipOften used as a noun adjunct or adjective to describe jobs or roles.
- 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a slang word for a man's testicles.
n.a slang term for the testicles, usually used in the plural.
Simple“The player was doubled over after the ball hit him right in the plums.”
In context“The comedian's routine relied heavily on crude references to his plums, which divided the audience's reaction.”
Synonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.having a dark reddish-purple colour.
adj.of a dark, brownish-purple or reddish-purple colour resembling the skin of the fruit.
Simple“She wore a beautiful plum dress to the wedding.”
In context“The interior designer suggested plum velvet curtains to add a sense of warmth and luxury to the master bedroom.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
adv.completely or totally.
adv.used as an intensifier meaning completely, utterly, or directly.
Simple“I was plum tired after walking all day in the sun.”
In context“By the time they reached the summit, the hikers were plum exhausted and ready to set up camp for the night.”
UsageOften used before adjectives like 'tired', 'crazy', or 'forgot'.
Synonyms
From Middle English plomme, ploume, from Old English plūme, from Proto-West Germanic *plūmā, borrowed from Latin prūnum. Doublet of prune.
Phonetically based spelling of plumb.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.