blet

A ripe pear has a small blet on its side.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A soft spot or area of decay on fruit: "blet" refers to a bruised, overripe, or beginning-to-rot patch on fruit, especially soft fruits like peaches, plums, or pears. This is the primary, specialized meaning.
   • The process of overripening leading to softness: "blet" can also denote the stage of fruit becoming soft and starting to decay due to excessive ripeness.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The peach had a small blet near the stem, so I cut it off before eating. (A soft, decaying spot on the fruit.)
  • After a few days in the bowl, the plums developed a blet and were no longer crisp. (An area of overripeness and softness.)

Advanced Usage

• "to show a blet": to exhibit signs of overripeness or decay.

  • The apple showed a blet on its skin, indicating it was past its best. (The apple had a soft, discolored spot.)

• "blet-free": without any soft or decaying spots.

  • The farmer guaranteed the fruit was blet-free and fresh. (The fruit had no signs of overripeness or rot.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bletted (adj): describing fruit that has developed one or more blets.
  • The bletted pear was too soft to slice. (The pear had become overripe and decayed in spots.)

Synonyms

• Bruise: a damaged area on fruit caused by pressure, though not necessarily from overripeness.
• Decay spot: a general term for a patch of rot on fruit.
• Soft patch: a descriptive phrase for a blet.

Related Idioms

• "To go to blet": to become overripe and start to rot.
  • The bananas went to blet after being left in the sun. (The bananas became overripe and developed soft, decaying spots.)

Notes

• "Blet" is a rare, specialized word used primarily in horticulture, fruit farming, or by produce inspectors. It is not commonly used in everyday conversation.