plural cherries
1
a
: any of numerous trees and shrubs (genus Prunus) of the rose family that bear pale yellow to deep red or blackish smooth-skinned drupes enclosing a smooth seed and that include some cultivated for their fruits or ornamental flowers compare sour cherry, sweet cherry
b
: the fruit of a cherry
c
: the reddish-brown wood of a cherry
especially
: black cherry sense 2
2
: a variable color averaging a moderate red
4
informal
: the burning end of a lit cigarette or cigar
I'm horrified: Dag is burning holes in the roof of the car with the cherry of his cigarette.—
Douglas Coupland
Douglas Coupland"Oh lord. Be quiet and maybe he won't find me. Put out your cigarette, Ryder, he'll see the cherry."—Julie Buntin
Julie BuntinExamples of cherry in a Sentence
The kitchen cabinets are made of cherry.
Recent Examples on the Web
The finish begins with more cinnamon and cherry, oak, a touch of fresh-baked bread and some chocolate frosting.
—Chris Perugini, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Both red dyes, Red No. 3 and Red No. 40 give a cherry red color used in food products and beverages that are made from petroleum, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
—Lauren David, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Mar. 2025
Between the lines: Peak bloom occurs when 70% of the Tidal Basin's Yoshino cherry blossoms have opened, according to the NPS.
—Mimi Montgomery, Axios, 27 Feb. 2025
Built in 2008, the house Gragg sold has 7½ bathrooms, three fireplaces, a two-story foyer, a bridal staircase, a living room with a marble hearth and a library with cherry millwork and built-ins.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cherry
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Chris Perugini, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Both red dyes, Red No. 3 and Red No. 40 give a cherry red color used in food products and beverages that are made from petroleum, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
—Lauren David, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Mar. 2025
Between the lines: Peak bloom occurs when 70% of the Tidal Basin's Yoshino cherry blossoms have opened, according to the NPS.
—Mimi Montgomery, Axios, 27 Feb. 2025
Built in 2008, the house Gragg sold has 7½ bathrooms, three fireplaces, a two-story foyer, a bridal staircase, a living room with a marble hearth and a library with cherry millwork and built-ins.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cherry
Cite this Entry
“Cherry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cherry. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cherry
noun
cher·ry
ˈcher-ē 
plural cherries
1
a
: any of numerous trees and shrubs that are related to the roses and have rather small pale yellow to deep blackish red smooth-skinned fruits
b
: the fruit of a cherry
c
: the reddish brown wood of a cherry
2
: a medium red
Etymology
Middle English chery "a cherry," from early French cherise "the cherry" (mistaken as being a plural), derived from Latin cerasus "cherry tree"
Medical Definition
cherry
noun
cher·ry
ˈcher-ē
plural cherries
1
: any of numerous trees and shrubs (genus Prunus) of the rose family that bear pale yellow to deep red or blackish smooth-skinned drupes enclosing a smooth seed and that belong to any of several varieties including some cultivated for their fruits or ornamental flowers
2
: the fruit of a cherry
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