blackberry: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral
Quick answer
What does “blackberry” mean?
The small, edible, dark purple fruit of a prickly shrub of the rose family, consisting of a cluster of small seed-covered drupelets.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The small, edible, dark purple fruit of a prickly shrub of the rose family, consisting of a cluster of small seed-covered drupelets.
The shrub that produces the fruit; also, the former brand of a line of smartphones and mobile devices (now discontinued).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning or usage for the fruit/plant. The smartphone brand was internationally known.
Connotations
In both varieties, connotations include summer, foraging, hedgerows, and homemade desserts (e.g., pie, jam).
Frequency
Equally common for the fruit. The brand name usage has declined sharply since the company's decline.
Grammar
How to Use “blackberry” in a Sentence
pick/gather/harvest blackberriesmake blackberry jam/piethe blackberries are ripeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blackberry” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We plan to blackberry in the fields this weekend.
- She spent the afternoon blackberrying for a pie.
American English
- Let's go blackberrying down by the creek.
- He was blackberrying when he got scratched by thorns.
adjective
British English
- She made a lovely blackberry compote.
- The blackberry jam is homemade.
American English
- He ordered the blackberry cobbler for dessert.
- The blackberry preserves are delicious.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Historical: 'BlackBerry devices were once dominant in the corporate sector.'
Academic
In botany/horticulture: 'Rubus fruticosus is the common blackberry species.'
Everyday
Primarily for the fruit/plant: 'We went blackberrying along the lane.'
Technical
In botany: 'The blackberry is an aggregate fruit composed of numerous drupelets.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “blackberry”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “blackberry”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blackberry”
- Using 'blackberries' as a singular countable noun (incorrect: 'I ate a blackberries'; correct: 'I ate a blackberry' or 'I ate some blackberries').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily it is a fruit. 'BlackBerry' (often capitalized) was a brand of smartphones, but this usage is now largely historical.
Yes, informally. 'To blackberry' means to pick blackberries (e.g., 'We went blackberrying').
They are different species. When picked, a raspberry leaves its core (receptacle) on the plant, while a blackberry picks with its core attached.
No common idioms exist. It sometimes appears in similes about rapid, tangled growth or thorny problems.
The small, edible, dark purple fruit of a prickly shrub of the rose family, consisting of a cluster of small seed-covered drupelets.
Blackberry is usually neutral in register.
Blackberry: in British English it is pronounced /ˈblakb(ə)ri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈblækˌbɛri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(none specific)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the colour BLACK and the fact it's a BERRY. A black berry.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROLIFERATION/INVASIVENESS IS A BLACKBERRY BUSH (e.g., 'The problem spread like a blackberry bramble').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'blackberry' in everyday modern English?