cherry

noun cher·ry \ˈcher-ē, ˈche-rē\

: a small round fruit that is usually red or black

: a tree on which this fruit grows

: the wood of a cherry tree

plural cherries

Full Definition of CHERRY

a : any of numerous trees and shrubs (genus Prunus) of the rose family that bear pale yellow to deep red or blackish smooth-skinned drupes enclosing a smooth seed and that include some cultivated for their fruits or ornamental flowers — compare sour cherry, sweet cherry

b : the fruit of a cherry

c : the reddish-brown wood of a cherry; especially : black cherry 2

: a variable color averaging a moderate red

a : hymen

b : virginity

— cher·ry·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

See cherry defined for English-language learners

See cherry defined for kids

Origin of CHERRY

Middle English chery, from Anglo-French cherise, cirice (taken as a plural), from Late Latin ceresia, from Latin cerasus cherry tree, from Greek kerasos

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with CHERRY

aerie, airy, berry, bury, Carey, chary, dairy, Derry, faerie, fairy, ferry, Gerry, glairy, glary, hairy, Jerry, kerry, Mary, marry, merry, nary, perry, prairie, query, scary, serry, Shari, sherry, skerry, terry, Terry, vary, very, wary, wherry

CHERRY Defined for Kids

cherry

noun cher·ry \ˈcher-ē\

plural cherries

Definition of CHERRY for Kids

: the small round yellow to deep red smooth-skinned fruit of a tree that is related to the plum tree

: a medium red

Medical Dictionary

cherry

noun cher·ry \ˈcher-ē\

plural cherries

Medical Definition of CHERRY

: any of numerous trees and shrubs (genus Prunus) of the rose family that bear pale yellow to deep red or blackish smooth-skinned drupes enclosing a smooth seed and that belong to any of several varieties including some cultivated for their fruits or ornamental flowers

: the fruit of a cherry