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¹fruit

noun, often attributive \ˈfrüt\

: a usually sweet food (such as a blueberry, orange, or apple) that grows on a tree or bush

: the part of a plant that has the seeds in it (such as the pod of a pea, a nut, a grain, or a berry)

: a result or reward that comes from some action or activity

Full Definition of FRUIT

a : a product of plant growth (as grain, vegetables, or cotton) <the fruits of the field>

b (1) : the usually edible reproductive body of a seed plant; especially : one having a sweet pulp associated with the seed <the fruit of the tree> (2) : a succulent plant part (as the petioles of a rhubarb plant) used chiefly in a dessert or sweet course

c : a dish, quantity, or diet of fruits <live on fruit>

d : a product of fertilization in a plant with its modified envelopes or appendages; specifically : the ripened ovary of a seed plant and its contents

e : the flavor or aroma of fresh fruit in mature wine

: offspring, progeny

a : the state of bearing fruit <a tree in fruit>

b : the effect or consequence of an action or operation : product, result <the fruits of our labor>

usually disparaging : a male homosexual

— fruit·ed \ˈfrü-təd\ adjective

See fruit defined for English-language learners

See fruit defined for kids

Origin of FRUIT

Middle English, from Anglo-French frut, fruit, from Latin fructus fruit, use, from frui to enjoy, have the use of — more at brook

First Known Use: 12th century

Related to FRUIT

Synonyms: aftereffect, aftermath, backwash, child, conclusion, consequence, corollary, development, fate, effect, issue, outcome, outgrowth, precipitate, product, result, resultant, sequel, sequence, upshot

Antonyms: antecedent, causation, cause, occasion, reason

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

Rhymes with FRUIT

boot, bruit, brut, brute, bute, Bute, butte, chute, cloot, coot, cute, flute, glout, glute, hoot, jute, Jute, loot, lute, moot, mute, newt, pood, root, Root, rout, route, scoot, scute, shoot, snoot, soot, suit, suite, toot, tout, ut, Ute

²fruit

verb

: to produce fruit

Full Definition of FRUIT

intransitive verb

: to bear fruit

transitive verb

: to cause to bear fruit

See fruit defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of FRUIT

14th century

Other Agriculture/Gardening Terms

fallow, graft, heirloom, loam, potash, soilage, swath, tilth, windfall

FRUIT Defined for Kids

¹fruit

noun \ˈfrüt\

Definition of FRUIT for Kids

: a usually soft and juicy plant part (as rhubarb, a strawberry, or an orange) that is often eaten as a dessert and is distinguished from a vegetable

: a product of fertilization in a seed plant that consists of the ripened ovary of a flower with its included seeds <Apples, cucumbers, nuts, and blueberries are all fruits.>

: ²result 1, product <You can enjoy the fruits of your labors.>

— fruit·ed \-əd\ adjective <a fruited plant>

²fruit

verb

fruit·edfruit·ing

Definition of FRUIT for Kids

: to bear or cause to bear fruit

Medical Dictionary

fruit

noun , often attrib \ˈfrüt\

Medical Definition of FRUIT

: the usually edible reproductive body of a seed plant; especially : one having a sweet pulp associated with the seed <the fruit of the tree>

: a product of fertilization in a plant with its modified envelopes or appendages; specifically : the ripened ovary of a seed plant and its contents