grapes: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral/Formal/Informal
Quick answer
What does “grapes” mean?
A small, round fruit that grows in clusters on a vine, typically with a smooth skin and juicy flesh, often used for making wine.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, round fruit that grows in clusters on a vine, typically with a smooth skin and juicy flesh, often used for making wine.
Symbol of fertility, abundance, or prosperity; often used metaphorically in expressions like 'sour grapes' to denote disparagement of something one cannot have.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Similar connotations in both varieties; associated with wine, health, and Mediterranean cuisine.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “grapes” in a Sentence
V + grapes: grow grapes, pick grapes, eat grapesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “grapes” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The vineyard is graping nicely this season.
- They will grape the vines in September.
American English
- The vineyard is graping well this year.
- They plan to grape the southern acreage first.
adjective
British English
- The grape harvest was excellent.
- She prepared a grape chutney.
American English
- The grape crop was abundant.
- He ordered a grape soda.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in agriculture, viticulture, and food retail sectors (e.g., 'The company exports table grapes to Europe').
Academic
Appears in botany, agriculture, and nutrition studies (e.g., 'Resveratrol content in grapes varies by cultivar').
Everyday
Common in cooking, shopping, and general conversation (e.g., 'Could you add some grapes to the shopping list?').
Technical
Used in winemaking (oenology) and horticulture (e.g., 'The grapes were destemmed before crushing').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “grapes”
- Using 'grape' as a plural noun (incorrect: 'I ate three grape'; correct: 'I ate three grapes').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is usually countable and used in the plural form (e.g., 'a bunch of grapes'). The singular 'grape' refers to one individual fruit.
Grapes are the fresh fruit. Raisins are dried grapes.
It means pretending to despise something because you cannot have it yourself.
Rarely, but in agricultural contexts it can mean 'to grow or harvest grapes'.
A small, round fruit that grows in clusters on a vine, typically with a smooth skin and juicy flesh, often used for making wine.
Grapes is usually neutral/formal/informal in register.
Grapes: in British English it is pronounced /ɡreɪps/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡreɪps/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Sour grapes”
- “The grapes of wrath”
- “To cry sour grapes”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a bunch of grapes shaped like the letter 'G'.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A VINE/YIELDING FRUIT (e.g., 'bearing fruit', 'fruit of one's labour').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a common collocation with 'grapes'?