sharon fruit: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Commercial
Quick answer
What does “sharon fruit” mean?
A type of persimmon (Diospyros kaki) that is astringent until fully ripe, but a commercial cultivar is marketed as sweet and edible even when firm.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of persimmon (Diospyros kaki) that is astringent until fully ripe, but a commercial cultivar is marketed as sweet and edible even when firm.
A marketing name for a specific cultivated variety of persimmon, often seedless, with edible flesh even when the fruit is still crisp, sold primarily in supermarkets.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
"Sharon fruit" is the common term in British English. In American English, it is typically called a "persimmon," often specified as "Fuyu persimmon" or "non-astringent persimmon."
Connotations
In the UK, it carries connotations of a modern, imported supermarket fruit. In the US, the broader category "persimmon" has more traditional and seasonal connotations.
Frequency
High frequency in UK supermarkets and cooking media; low frequency in the US, where the generic "persimmon" dominates.
Grammar
How to Use “sharon fruit” in a Sentence
eat [a sharon fruit]peel [the sharon fruit]add [diced sharon fruit] to [the salad]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sharon fruit” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The sharon fruit chutney was delicious.
- A sharon fruit tree.
American English
- A persimmon-colored shirt.
- Persimmon pudding is a tradition.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in import/export, horticulture, and supermarket retail contexts.
Academic
Rare; used in botany or horticulture papers discussing Diospyros kaki cultivars.
Everyday
Used in cooking, shopping, and casual conversation about fruit.
Technical
Used in agriculture and pomology to refer to the 'Triumph' cultivar grown in Israel.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sharon fruit”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sharon fruit”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sharon fruit”
- Spelling: 'Sharon fruit' (capital S) vs. 'sharon fruit'. Using it as a countable noun without an article: 'I like sharon fruit' (ok) vs. 'I ate sharon fruit' (needs 'a' or plural).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, a sharon fruit is a specific type (cultivar) of persimmon, known for being edible when firm and crisp.
It is named after the Sharon Plain in Israel, where this particular cultivar was commercially grown and marketed.
A sharon fruit is ripe when it is uniformly orange and yields slightly to gentle pressure. It can be eaten while still firm.
Yes, it can be eaten raw, added to salads, or used in baking, though it's less commonly cooked than the astringent varieties used in puddings.
A type of persimmon (Diospyros kaki) that is astringent until fully ripe, but a commercial cultivar is marketed as sweet and edible even when firm.
Sharon fruit is usually informal, commercial in register.
Sharon fruit: in British English it is pronounced /ˌʃærən ˈfruːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌʃɛrən ˈfrut/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this specific term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the Sharon Plain in Israel + fruit. It's a 'fruit from Sharon'.
Conceptual Metaphor
[Not commonly metaphoric]
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary linguistic difference between British and American usage of 'sharon fruit'?