cherry: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to informal, depending on context (e.g., 'cherry' for virginity is dated slang).
Quick answer
What does “cherry” mean?
A small, round, soft fruit, typically bright or dark red, with a single hard stone inside.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, round, soft fruit, typically bright or dark red, with a single hard stone inside.
The tree that bears this fruit; a bright red colour; a virgin state (slang, dated); something pleasing or excellent (cherry of a...); used attributively to denote something made of or involving cherries, or of a cherry-red colour.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Cherry-pick' is equally common. 'Cherry' as slang for the hymen is more dated in BrE than AmE. Spelling of compounds may differ (e.g., 'cherry-pick' vs. 'cherry pick').
Connotations
In both, connotations of brightness, freshness, and sometimes innocence or virginity (dated). In business contexts, 'cherry-picking' has a negative connotation of selecting only the best, leaving the rest.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties for the fruit and colour. The idiom 'a bite at the cherry' (BrE) is less common in AmE, where 'a bite of the cherry' or other phrases might be used.
Grammar
How to Use “cherry” in a Sentence
N of N (a bowl of cherries)N to-inf (It's a cherry to eat fresh)ADJ + N (sweet cherry)V + N (pick cherries)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cherry” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They were accused of trying to cherry-pick the best candidates from the list.
American English
- The algorithm is designed to cherry-pick the most relevant data points.
adverb
British English
- This is not a valid adverb form.
American English
- This is not a valid adverb form.
adjective
British English
- She wore a lovely cherry-coloured scarf to the party.
American English
- He restored the old car to its original cherry-red finish.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Negative: 'cherry-picking' the most profitable clients.
Academic
Botany: classification of Prunus avium/cerasus.
Everyday
Fruit, colour, flavour descriptions.
Technical
Horticulture: grafting, cultivation; Computing: 'cherry' key on keyboards.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cherry”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cherry”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cherry”
- Using uncountable for individual fruits: 'I ate cherry' (incorrect) vs. 'I ate a cherry'/'I ate some cherry' (flavour).
- Confusing 'cherry' with 'berry' in botanical terms.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, botanically it is a drupe (stone fruit), not a true berry.
'Cherry' often refers to the flavour or substance (e.g., cherry pie filling), while 'cherries' refers to whole individual fruits (e.g., garnish with cherries).
In neutral contexts (e.g., 'cherry-picking data for analysis'), it can be descriptive, but it often implies an unfair or biased selection process.
Not alone; it's used in the phrasal verb 'to cherry-pick'.
A small, round, soft fruit, typically bright or dark red, with a single hard stone inside.
Cherry is usually neutral to informal, depending on context (e.g., 'cherry' for virginity is dated slang). in register.
Cherry: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃeri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃeri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Life is just a bowl of cherries”
- “Cherry-pick”
- “A bite at the cherry (BrE)”
- “Lose one's cherry (slang, dated)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CHARIOT (sounds like 'cherry-it') carrying bright red cherries.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHERRIES ARE DESIRABLE THINGS (to be picked/chosen). INNOCENCE/VIRGINITY IS A CHERRY (to be lost).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'cherry' most likely to have a negative connotation?