st. lucie cherry: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low (Specialised/Niche)
UK/ˌseɪnt ˈluːsi ˈtʃɛri/US/ˌseɪnt ˈluːsi ˈtʃɛri/

Technical/Specialised (Horticulture, Culinary)

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Quick answer

What does “st. lucie cherry” mean?

A specific cultivated variety of cherry (Prunus cerasus) known for its culinary qualities, originating in the Alsace region of France, also sometimes called 'Saint Lucie cherry'.

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Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A specific cultivated variety of cherry (Prunus cerasus) known for its culinary qualities, originating in the Alsace region of France, also sometimes called 'Saint Lucie cherry'.

A tart or sour cherry prized for its bright red colour and flavour, used primarily for baking, jams, and preserving. It is also referred to in historical cultivation contexts.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No major lexical differences. Both use the term for the specific fruit. Cultivation knowledge may be more common in British horticultural texts due to historical European varieties.

Connotations

Both dialects connote a specific, somewhat old-fashioned, high-quality cooking cherry.

Frequency

Extremely low frequency in everyday speech for both. Slightly more likely to appear in British gardening or specialist food writing.

Grammar

How to Use “st. lucie cherry” in a Sentence

[to grow] + St. Lucie cherry + [for pies][a variety of] + St. Lucie cherry[known as] + the St. Lucie cherry

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
St. Lucie cherry treeSt. Lucie cherry varietyripe St. Lucie cherry
medium
cultivate St. Lucie cherrypreserve St. Lucie cherryharvest St. Lucie cherry
weak
famous St. Lucie cherrytart St. Lucie cherryred St. Lucie cherry

Examples

Examples of “st. lucie cherry” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

  • A classic St. Lucie cherry tart is a summer delight.
  • The St. Lucie cherry yield was exceptional this year.

American English

  • She made a fantastic St. Lucie cherry pie.
  • We're looking for a true St. Lucie cherry sapling.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Used in the horticultural trade, nursery catalogues, and specialty food supply descriptions.

Academic

Appears in botanical texts, historical agriculture papers, and pomology studies.

Everyday

Virtually never used in casual conversation. May appear in advanced cooking or gardening discussions.

Technical

Specific term in horticulture for a cultivar of Prunus cerasus with defined characteristics.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “st. lucie cherry”

Neutral

Morello cherrysour cherrycooking cherry

Weak

tart cherryculinary cherry

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “st. lucie cherry”

sweet cherryBing cherryeating cherry

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “st. lucie cherry”

  • Miswriting as 'St. Lucy cherry'.
  • Using it as a countable plural without 'cherries' (e.g., 'I bought some St. Lucie' instead of 'St. Lucie cherries').
  • Confusing it with 'Saint Lucia', the island nation.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

It is a sour or tart cherry (Prunus cerasus), making it ideal for culinary uses like pies and jams, not for fresh eating.

It is named after Saint Lucie (Saint Lucy), likely originating from the Alsace region of France. It is not associated with the island of Saint Lucia.

It is very unlikely. This is a specific, heritage variety typically found at specialist fruit growers, farmers' markets (in season), or as preserved products (jars, canned) from artisanal producers.

Both are types of sour cooking cherries. 'Morello' is a broader category, while 'St. Lucie' is a specific cultivar within that category, known for its particular characteristics of colour and flavour profile.

A specific cultivated variety of cherry (Prunus cerasus) known for its culinary qualities, originating in the Alsace region of France, also sometimes called 'Saint Lucie cherry'.

St. lucie cherry is usually technical/specialised (horticulture, culinary) in register.

St. lucie cherry: in British English it is pronounced /ˌseɪnt ˈluːsi ˈtʃɛri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌseɪnt ˈluːsi ˈtʃɛri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of 'Saint Lucy', the patron saint of light, holding a bright red cherry for her feast day pies.

Conceptual Metaphor

AUTHENTICITY/HERITAGE: The cherry represents traditional, artisanal cultivation (e.g., 'This jam is made with genuine St. Lucie cherries').

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
For an authentic taste, the recipe specifically calls for cherries, not the common sweet variety.
Multiple Choice

What is the St. Lucie cherry primarily known for?