What does "strawberry" mean?

1. (the fruit) a small, juicy red fruit with tiny seeds on its skin. 2. (the plant) the low-growing plant that produces strawberries. 3. (the colour) a dark pinkish-red colour. 4. (flavour or scent) tasting or smelling like strawberries.

strawberry

n. · adj.

US //ˈstɹɔˌbɛɹi// UK //stɹˈɔːbəɹi// straw·ber·ry

1 the fruit (n.)
A1 Beginner

a small, juicy red fruit with tiny seeds on its skin.

the sweet, red, edible accessory fruit of plants in the genus Fragaria.

Example

She picked a fresh strawberry from the garden and ate it immediately.

Example

The chef garnished the tart with a single glazed strawberry, providing a sharp contrast to the rich vanilla custard.
2 the plant (n.)
A2 Elementary

the low-growing plant that produces strawberries.

any plant of the genus Fragaria, typically characterised by runners and white flowers.

Example

We planted several strawberries in the wooden boxes on our balcony.

Example

The gardener recommended mulching the strawberries with straw to keep the developing fruit from touching the damp soil.

Show 2 more sensesShow fewer

3 the colour (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a dark pinkish-red colour.

a dark pinkish-red hue resembling the natural colour of the ripe fruit.

Example

The walls were painted a soft strawberry that glowed in the afternoon sun.

Example

The sunset stained the clouds a deep strawberry, reflecting beautifully off the calm surface of the lake.
- rose
- pinkish red
4 flavour or scent (adj.)
A1 Beginner

tasting or smelling like strawberries.

containing, flavoured with, or smelling of strawberries or their synthetic equivalents.

Example

I would like two scoops of strawberry ice cream in a cone, please.

Example

The laboratory developed a strawberry essence that captured the aromatic profile of the fruit without the acidity of the natural juice.

Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ster-der. Proto-Indo-European *sterh₃- Proto-Indo-European *strew-der. Proto-Germanic *strawą Proto-West Germanic *strau Old English strēaw Proto-Germanic *bazją Proto-West Germanic *baʀi Old English berġe Old English strēawberġe Middle English strawbery English strawberry From Middle English strawbery, strauberi, from Old English strēawberġe, corresponding to straw + berry. Of various theories advanced to explain the name, the two most plausible are: # from the fact that wild strawberries grow on stalk-like runners, compare Norwegian stråbær (“European cranberry”, which grows in a similar way); # from the practice, still common in parts of Europe, of gathering strawberries by stringing them on a straw or stalk (because wild strawberries melt quickly when gathered in a bucket).