Definition

Noun: 1. A tropical fruit: A cylindrical, composite fruit from a tropical American vine, resembling a pinecone in appearance and having a flavor reminiscent of pineapple and banana. 2. A tropical vine: A climbing plant native to tropical America, known for its long, cord-like aerial roots and which produces the ceriman fruit. Its botanical name is Monstera deliciosa.

Usage Examples

• As a fruit:
  • The ceriman is ripe when its green scales begin to lift and fall off.
  • We tried a ceriman for the first time; its unique taste was a mix of pineapple and banana.
• As a plant:
  • A large ceriman vine grew up the side of the greenhouse.
  • The ceriman is a popular houseplant, admired for its large, perforated leaves.

Advanced Usage

• The term "ceriman" is less common in everyday English than the plant's botanical name, , or its common nickname, "Swiss cheese plant" (which refers to the characteristic holes in its leaves). When used, it typically refers specifically to the fruit.

Variants and Related Words

• Monstera deliciosa (n): The formal botanical name for the ceriman plant and fruit.
• Swiss cheese plant (n): A common name for the ceriman vine, referring to the fenestrations (holes and splits) in its leaves.

Synonyms

• Fruit of the Monstera deliciosa: A descriptive synonym.
• Mexican breadfruit: Another common name for the fruit, though it is not related to breadfruit.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The primary meaning of "ceriman" is the edible fruit. The secondary meaning is the vine that produces it. Context usually makes it clear which is intended (e.g., "eating a ceriman" vs. "growing a ceriman").

Noun

1. tropical cylindrical fruit resembling a pinecone with pineapple-banana flavor
2. tropical American vine having roots that hang like cords and cylindrical fruit with a pineapple and banana flavor