# plum

/ˈpɫəm/ (US) · /plˈʌm/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. the fruit

noun · CEFR A2

a round, sweet fruit with smooth skin and a hard seed in the middle.

For teachers: the edible drupaceous fruit of various trees in the genus Prunus, typically having a smooth skin and a single hard stone.

- She picked a ripe plum from the tree and ate it immediately.
- The orchard was heavy with fruit, the branches of the plum trees sagging under the weight of the ripening harvest.

### 2. something desirable

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

something very good that people want, like a great job or a prize.

For teachers: a highly desirable position, prize, or opportunity, often obtained through luck or influence.

- He landed a plum job at the new tech company in the city.
- The senior partner secured a plum assignment in the Paris office, much to the envy of his younger colleagues.

Teaching tip: Often used as a noun adjunct or adjective to describe jobs or roles.

### 3. testicles

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Vulgar · British English

a slang word for a man's testicles.

For teachers: a slang term for the testicles, usually used in the plural.

- The player was doubled over after the ball hit him right in the plums.
- The comedian's routine relied heavily on crude references to his plums, which divided the audience's reaction.

### 4. the colour

adjective · CEFR B2

having a dark reddish-purple colour.

For teachers: of a dark, brownish-purple or reddish-purple colour resembling the skin of the fruit.

- She wore a beautiful plum dress to the wedding.
- The interior designer suggested plum velvet curtains to add a sense of warmth and luxury to the master bedroom.

### 5. completely

adverb · CEFR C1 · Informal · American English · Dialect

completely or totally.

For teachers: used as an intensifier meaning completely, utterly, or directly.

- I was plum tired after walking all day in the sun.
- By the time they reached the summit, the hikers were plum exhausted and ready to set up camp for the night.

Usage: Often used before adjectives like 'tired', 'crazy', or 'forgot'.

## Examples

- I ate a ripe plum for a snack.
- She picked the softest plum from the basket and washed it before eating.
- The orchard yielded a bountiful harvest of dark, juicy plums that ripened under the late summer sun.

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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.