mulberry: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-to-mediumNeutral. Appears in everyday, culinary, gardening, and historical contexts.
Quick answer
What does “mulberry” mean?
A small, edible, sweet-and-tart berry that grows on a tree of the same name, or the tree itself.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, edible, sweet-and-tart berry that grows on a tree of the same name, or the tree itself.
A deep reddish-purple colour. The tree, valued historically for its leaves as food for silkworms.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. Pronunciation and some spelling conventions (colour/color) may apply to derivatives.
Connotations
Similar in both. May evoke childhood memories of picking/staining clothes.
Frequency
Equally low-to-medium in both. Slightly higher in contexts discussing historic sericulture (silk production).
Grammar
How to Use “mulberry” in a Sentence
The [ADJ] mulberry [VERB]A [ADJ] of mulberriesTo harvest/gather/pick mulberriesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mulberry” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The children were mulberrying in the orchard.
- My fingers are mulberried from the juice.
American English
- We spent the afternoon mulberrying in the backyard.
- She mulberried her new shirt while picking.
adjective
British English
- She bought a lovely mulberry-coloured handbag.
- The walls were painted a deep mulberry.
American English
- He prefers mulberry-colored ties for formal events.
- The mulberry stain on the patio was stubborn.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In the luxury goods sector ('Mulberry' is a famous British leather brand).
Academic
In botany, horticulture, or history of textiles (sericulture).
Everyday
Discussing gardens, fruit, jam-making, or the colour of an item.
Technical
In silkworm farming (Bombyx mori), discussing Morus species cultivation.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mulberry”
- Spelling: 'mulbery' (missing an 'r'). Confusing the tree with a blackberry bush.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. They are different fruits from different plant families. Mulberries grow on trees, blackberries grow on thorny canes.
Yes, ripe mulberries are edible and sweet-tart raw. They are often used in jams, pies, and wines.
The 'mulberry bush' was a common feature in gardens and courtyards, often used as a meeting point for children's games.
Silkworms (Bombyx mori) feed almost exclusively on the leaves of the white mulberry tree (Morus alba), making it crucial for silk production.
A small, edible, sweet-and-tart berry that grows on a tree of the same name, or the tree itself.
Mulberry is usually neutral. appears in everyday, culinary, gardening, and historical contexts. in register.
Mulberry: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmʌl.bər.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmʌl.ber.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Here we go round the mulberry bush (nursery rhyme/idiom for a repetitive, pointless activity)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MUL' tiply the BERRIES on this tree.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SOURCE OF SUSTENANCE (for people and silkworms). A STAIN (the juice stains easily).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary historical industrial use of the mulberry tree?