persimmon: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “persimmon” mean?
A soft, orange-red, sweet fruit that looks like a large tomato, from a tree of the ebony family, eaten when fully ripe.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A soft, orange-red, sweet fruit that looks like a large tomato, from a tree of the ebony family, eaten when fully ripe.
The tree (genus Diospyros) that bears this fruit, often cultivated for its edible fruit and hard, dark wood.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The fruit is less common in the UK, so familiarity may be lower.
Connotations
In the US, particularly in the South and Midwest, it is a recognized seasonal fruit with nostalgic or regional connotations. In the UK, it is viewed as an exotic or specialist fruit.
Frequency
More frequently encountered in American English due to native species (e.g., the American persimmon) and greater culinary use.
Grammar
How to Use “persimmon” in a Sentence
The [ADJ] persimmon [VERB]...a persimmon from [PLACE]a [TYPE] persimmonVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “persimmon” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The persimmon-coloured leaves were stunning.
American English
- She made a delicious persimmon bread.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in contexts of horticulture, fruit import/export, and farmers' market sales.
Academic
Used in botanical, horticultural, and culinary studies texts.
Everyday
Used in conversations about fruit, cooking, gardening, and seasonal produce.
Technical
Used in botanical classification and descriptions of plant species within the genus Diospyros.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “persimmon”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “persimmon”
- Misspelling as 'persimon' (single 'm').
- Using as a countable noun without plural 's' (e.g., 'three persimmon').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It will taste extremely bitter and astringent, causing a dry, puckering sensation in the mouth due to its high tannin content.
American persimmons (Diospyros virginiana) are smaller, seedier, and have a richer flavour when ripe. Japanese or Asian persimmons (Diospyros kaki) are the larger, more common varieties found in supermarkets, often seedless and less astringent when firm.
A ripe persimmon will be very soft to the touch, almost gel-like inside, and the skin may appear slightly translucent. It should feel heavy for its size.
Yes, the skin is edible, but some people find it tough or bitter and prefer to peel it, especially in cooked dishes or if the fruit is not perfectly ripe.
A soft, orange-red, sweet fruit that looks like a large tomato, from a tree of the ebony family, eaten when fully ripe.
Persimmon is usually standard in register.
Persimmon: in British English it is pronounced /pəˈsɪmən/, and in American English it is pronounced /pərˈsɪmən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'PERmission to eat a SIMmON?' – You need permission because unripe ones are terribly bitter!
Conceptual Metaphor
Ripeness as transformation (from inedibly astringent to sweet).
Practice
Quiz
What is a key characteristic of an unripe persimmon?