red delicious: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-to-medium (common within specific contexts like grocery, horticulture, or culinary discussions)Formal for botanical/horticultural use; informal in everyday shopping/cooking contexts.
Quick answer
What does “red delicious” mean?
A widely recognized cultivar of apple, characterized by its deep red color, elongated shape with five distinct knobs at the base, and mildly sweet flavor.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A widely recognized cultivar of apple, characterized by its deep red color, elongated shape with five distinct knobs at the base, and mildly sweet flavor.
Often used as a symbol of a classic, common, or sometimes bland apple in contrast to newer, more flavorful varieties; can metaphorically represent something that is superficially attractive but lacking in substance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is identical in both varieties. However, its prominence in markets differs; it was historically a dominant variety in the US, while in the UK, cultivars like Cox's Orange Pippin or Gala have stronger market presence.
Connotations
In the US, it can carry a slightly negative connotation of being overly bred for appearance and shelf-life at the expense of flavor. In the UK, it is often viewed as a typical, somewhat generic 'American' apple.
Frequency
More frequently encountered in American English due to its historical commercial dominance there.
Grammar
How to Use “red delicious” in a Sentence
[noun modifier] + Red Delicious (e.g., 'a shiny Red Delicious')Verb + Red Delicious (e.g., 'grow, pick, sell, eat a Red Delicious')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “red delicious” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Not applicable as a verb]
American English
- [Not applicable as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [Not applicable as an adverb]
American English
- [Not applicable as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- [Not used attributively as a general adjective. Only as part of the compound noun 'Red Delicious apple'.]
American English
- [Not used attributively as a general adjective. Only as part of the compound noun 'Red Delicious apple'.]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in agricultural reports, supermarket procurement, and fruit export/import documentation.
Academic
Used in botany, horticulture, and agricultural science papers discussing apple cultivars, genetics, or pomology.
Everyday
Used when shopping for fruit, discussing recipes, or comparing apple flavors and textures.
Technical
Used as a specific cultivar name in horticulture, with specific grafting, growing, and harvesting guidelines.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “red delicious”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “red delicious”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “red delicious”
- Writing it in lower case ('red delicious').
- Using it as a descriptor for other red foods (e.g., 'a red delicious tomato').
- Confusing it with 'Delicious' as a general adjective.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Red Delicious' is a specific red-skinned cultivar. 'Delicious' is sometimes used informally to refer to it, but technically, 'Golden Delicious' is a different, yellow-green cultivar.
Critics argue that decades of selective breeding for a thick, dark red skin and long shelf life have made its texture often mealy and its flavor less intense compared to other varieties.
No. 'Red Delicious' is a proper noun for an apple cultivar. Describing a cake as 'delicious and red' would require separate adjectives.
It was originally called the 'Hawkeye' apple after it was discovered in Iowa, USA, in the 1870s.
A widely recognized cultivar of apple, characterized by its deep red color, elongated shape with five distinct knobs at the base, and mildly sweet flavor.
Red delicious is usually formal for botanical/horticultural use; informal in everyday shopping/cooking contexts. in register.
Red delicious: in British English it is pronounced /ˌred dɪˈlɪʃəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌrɛd dəˈlɪʃəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specifically for 'Red Delicious'. It may appear in comparisons, e.g., 'as common as a Red Delicious'.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a delicious apple so vividly RED it has its own famous name: Red Delicious.
Conceptual Metaphor
APPEARANCE OVER SUBSTANCE (when used critically): 'The proposal was a Red Delicious—looked good on the surface but lacked real flavor.'
Practice
Quiz
What is a defining physical characteristic of a Red Delicious apple?