cherry tomato: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1neutral (common in culinary, gardening, and everyday contexts)
Quick answer
What does “cherry tomato” mean?
A small, round variety of tomato, typically about 1–2 cm in diameter, known for its sweet flavour and often eaten raw in salads.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, round variety of tomato, typically about 1–2 cm in diameter, known for its sweet flavour and often eaten raw in salads.
The plant (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) that produces these small fruits; often used as a general term for any very small, sweet tomato variety, including grape tomatoes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
Conveys ideas of freshness, health, gourmet cooking, and summer gardens in both cultures.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK gardening contexts; equally common in culinary contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “cherry tomato” in a Sentence
grow cherry tomatoesadd cherry tomatoeshalve cherry tomatoesscatter cherry tomatoesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cherry tomato” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We need to cherry-tomato that section of the salad for colour.
- She carefully cherry-tomatoes her famous pasta dish.
American English
- Let's cherry tomato the top of the pizza before baking.
- He always cherry tomatoes his kebabs for extra freshness.
adverb
British English
- The salad was arranged cherry-tomato-style across the plate.
- She sliced them cherry-tomato thin for the bruschetta.
American English
- Chop the vegetables cherry-tomato small for the salad.
- The farm sells its produce cherry-tomato fresh.
adjective
British English
- The cherry-tomato plants are thriving in the greenhouse.
- She prepared a lovely cherry-tomato relish.
American English
- We're having a cherry-tomato taste-test this weekend.
- He prefers a cherry-tomato base for his salsa.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in agricultural reports, supermarket product descriptions, and restaurant supply chains.
Academic
Appears in botanical studies, horticulture papers, and nutritional research on phytonutrients.
Everyday
Common in recipes, shopping lists, and garden planning conversations.
Technical
Used in seed catalogues, cultivar specifications, and agricultural extension guides.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cherry tomato”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cherry tomato”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cherry tomato”
- Pronouncing 'cherry' as /ˈʃeri/ instead of /ˈtʃeri/.
- Using 'cherry tomatoes' as a singular form (e.g., 'I ate a cherry tomato').
- Confusing with 'grape tomatoes' (shape difference).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While both are small varieties, cherry tomatoes are typically perfectly round, whereas grape tomatoes are oblong or oval-shaped, like a grape.
Yes, but because they are very juicy and have a high water content, you will need to cook them longer to reduce the sauce to a desirable thickness. Their sweetness can make for a very nice sauce.
The name comes from their visual resemblance to cherries—they are small, round, and often have a similar glossy red appearance.
Store them at room temperature, out of direct sunlight, and do not refrigerate unless they are very ripe and you need to slow further ripening. Refrigeration can make them mealy and lessen their flavour.
A small, round variety of tomato, typically about 1–2 cm in diameter, known for its sweet flavour and often eaten raw in salads.
Cherry tomato is usually neutral (common in culinary, gardening, and everyday contexts) in register.
Cherry tomato: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtʃeri təˈmɑːtəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtʃeri təˈmeɪˌtoʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “like trying to grow cherry tomatoes in the Arctic (a futile endeavour)”
- “a cherry tomato among beefsteaks (something small and sweet among larger, blander things)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a cherry trying to disguise itself as a tomato – small, round, and red, but in the salad bowl, not on a sundae.
Conceptual Metaphor
SWEETNESS IS SMALLNESS (the small form is conceptually linked to concentrated flavour and sweetness).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic that defines a 'cherry tomato'?