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fruit
/fruːt/
edible plant part
She bought some fresh fruit at the market.
She purchased apples, bananas, and grapes to eat.
neutral
The sweet or savory part of a plant that contains seeds and can be eaten.
Apples and oranges are common fruits.
These are examples of fruits people often eat.
The fruit of the coffee plant is used to make coffee beans.
The seed-containing part of the coffee plant is processed into coffee.
In botany, a fruit develops from the ovary of a flowering plant and contains seeds.
figurative
The result or reward of an action or effort.
Hard work is the fruit of success.
Success comes from effort.
The fruit of their research was a new medical discovery.
Their research led to an important medical breakthrough.
Used metaphorically to describe positive outcomes.
Collocations
fresh fruitfruit that is not preserved or processedtropical fruitfruit grown in warm climatesfruit juiceliquid extracted from fruitfruit salada dish made of mixed pieces of fruit
Pro Tip
Remember the difference between fruit and vegetable
In cooking, fruits are often sweet and used in desserts, while vegetables are savory and used in main dishes. However, in botany, tomatoes and cucumbers are fruits because they contain seeds.
Gold Rule
Fruit vs. vegetable
Use 'fruit' for sweet plant parts with seeds (e.g., apples, strawberries). Use 'vegetable' for other edible plant parts like leaves (spinach), stems (celery), or roots (carrots).
Figurative use
The phrase 'fruit of one's labor' means the positive results of hard work. Example: 'The fruit of her years of study was a top exam score.'
Word Origin
From Middle English 'fruit' (meaning 'fruit' or 'enjoyment'), from Old French 'fruit' (modern French 'fruit'), from Latin 'fructus' ('enjoyment, fruit'), from 'frui' ('to enjoy'). Related to 'fructify' and 'frugal'.
Usage Notes
In everyday speech, 'fruit' usually refers to sweet plant products like apples or bananas. In botany, the term includes all seed-bearing structures from flowering plants, including tomatoes, cucumbers, and nuts. The figurative use ('fruit of labor') is common in literature and motivational contexts.
Word Breakdown
fruit
the edible part of a plant
rootEnglish Dictionary