cherry pepper: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Specialized (Culinary, Gardening)
Quick answer
What does “cherry pepper” mean?
A small, round, mildly spicy pepper, typically red, green, or yellow, resembling a cherry in size and shape.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, round, mildly spicy pepper, typically red, green, or yellow, resembling a cherry in size and shape.
A type of Capsicum annuum chili pepper, often pickled or used fresh in salads, salsas, and as a garnish. It can also refer to the plant that bears this fruit.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In both varieties, the term is a culinary/gardening term. No major lexical difference exists, but in UK gardening contexts, 'cherry chilli' might be an alternative phrasing.
Connotations
Neutral, descriptive term for a specific produce item. Slightly more common in the context of pickled condiments or jarred antipasti in the US.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse; appears primarily in cooking, gardening, or grocery contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “cherry pepper” in a Sentence
grow [cherry peppers]pickle [cherry peppers]stuff [a cherry pepper] with [cheese]chop [some cherry pepper]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cherry pepper” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- No standard verb use.
American English
- No standard verb use.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial use.
American English
- No standard adverbial use.
adjective
British English
- No standard adjectival use.
American English
- No standard adjectival use.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in import/export of agricultural produce or specialty food retail.
Academic
Rare, except in botanical or horticultural papers describing Capsicum annuum varieties.
Everyday
Used in recipes, gardening discussions, or while shopping for groceries.
Technical
Used in botany (plant classification), horticulture (plant cultivation), and culinary arts (ingredient specification).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cherry pepper”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cherry pepper”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cherry pepper”
- Confusing it with 'cherry tomato' (a sweet fruit).
- Assuming it is always sweet because of 'cherry' (it is often spicy).
- Using it as a countable noun incorrectly (e.g., 'a cherry pepper' is correct for one fruit).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Most varieties are mildly to moderately spicy, but some cultivars can be quite hot. They are not as mild as a bell pepper.
You can substitute for heat, but the flavour profile and, more importantly, the size/shape will be different, which matters for presentations like stuffing.
They are commonly pickled, stuffed with cheese or meat, sliced into salads and salsas, or used as a garnish for their colour and mild heat.
'Cherry bomb' is a specific, often hotter, cultivar of the round cherry pepper type. All cherry bombs are cherry peppers, but not all cherry peppers are cherry bombs.
A small, round, mildly spicy pepper, typically red, green, or yellow, resembling a cherry in size and shape.
Cherry pepper is usually specialized (culinary, gardening) in register.
Cherry pepper: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃeri ˈpepə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃeri ˈpɛpər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this specific term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a bright RED CHERRY that's SPICY instead of sweet. The SHAPE is like a cherry, but it's a PEPPER.
Conceptual Metaphor
ROUNDNESS/SHAPE as defining characteristic (cherry-like).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic denoted by 'cherry' in 'cherry pepper'?