plum tomato: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal to neutral, with technical use in horticulture and cooking.
Quick answer
What does “plum tomato” mean?
A type of tomato that is oval or egg-shaped, with fewer seeds and thicker flesh than round tomatoes, often used for cooking, sauces, and canning.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of tomato that is oval or egg-shaped, with fewer seeds and thicker flesh than round tomatoes, often used for cooking, sauces, and canning.
A cultivar of tomato prized for its dense, meaty texture and rich flavor, making it ideal for processing. In some contexts, it may refer specifically to varieties like Roma or San Marzano.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is used in both varieties. In UK supermarkets, they might sometimes be labelled specifically as 'plum tomatoes' or 'Italian plum tomatoes'. In the US, the term 'Roma tomato' is a very common synonym.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes a tomato better suited for cooking than for salads. Slightly more gourmet or specific than a generic 'tomato'.
Frequency
Frequency is similar, though in American English 'Roma' may be more frequent in everyday grocery contexts, while 'plum tomato' remains standard in recipes and gardening.
Grammar
How to Use “plum tomato” in a Sentence
[verb] + plum tomato (e.g., chop, roast, can, grow)plum tomato + [noun] (e.g., sauce, salad, plant, variety)[adjective] + plum tomato (e.g., ripe, canned, fresh)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “plum tomato” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- This variety doesn't plum tomato well in our climate.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in agricultural supply, supermarket procurement, and food manufacturing (e.g., 'The contract specifies 10 tonnes of Italian plum tomatoes.').
Academic
Used in botany, horticulture, and food science papers describing Solanum lycopersicum cultivars.
Everyday
Used in cooking instructions, shopping lists, and gardening conversations (e.g., 'For the best sauce, use tinned plum tomatoes.').
Technical
Used in seed catalogs, culinary textbooks, and canning/preserving guides to specify tomato type by shape and use.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “plum tomato”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “plum tomato”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “plum tomato”
- Misspelling as 'plumb tomato'.
- Using it to describe the color (plum-colored) rather than the shape/variety.
- Pronouncing 'tomato' with only one /t/ sound (e.g., 'tomado').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'Roma' is a very common cultivar or type of plum tomato. 'Plum tomato' is the general category; 'Roma' is a specific variety within it.
Yes, you can, but they are firmer and less juicy than salad tomatoes like beefsteak. They are often chosen for salads where a denser texture is desired, or when roasted first.
They are named for their shape, which resembles that of a plum (oval or egg-shaped), not for their taste or colour.
No, plum tomatoes are traditional cultivars developed through selective breeding, not genetic modification. Varieties like Roma and San Marzano are open-pollinated heirlooms.
A type of tomato that is oval or egg-shaped, with fewer seeds and thicker flesh than round tomatoes, often used for cooking, sauces, and canning.
Plum tomato is usually informal to neutral, with technical use in horticulture and cooking. in register.
Plum tomato: in British English it is pronounced /ˌplʌm təˈmɑːtəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌplʌm təˈmeɪˌtoʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this compound term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PLUM (the fruit) that decided to become a TOMATO. It kept its plum-like oval shape but turned red and joined the vegetable garden.
Conceptual Metaphor
SHAPE FOR FUNCTION: The oval 'plum' shape metaphorically indicates a tomato designed for a specific purpose (cooking/saucing), not just eating raw.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic that defines a 'plum tomato'?