Definition

1. Noun:

   • A small, round, typically red fruit with a single hard stone (pit): A soft, fleshy fruit that grows on trees of the genus Prunus, known for its sweet or tart flavor.
   • Any of numerous trees and shrubs producing this fruit: A tree of the genus Prunus, which bears cherries and often has attractive spring blossoms.
   • The wood of such a tree: A hardwood, often from the black cherry tree, valued for its color and grain in furniture making.
   • A bright or deep red color: A color resembling that of a ripe red cherry.

2. Adjective:

   • Of a bright or deep red color: Having a color similar to that of a typical red cherry.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Fruit):
  • She bought a pound of fresh cherries at the market.
  • The recipe calls for a cup of pitted cherries.
• Noun (Tree):
  • The cherry in our backyard blooms beautifully every spring.
• Noun (Wood):
  • The table is made of solid cherry.
• Noun/Adjective (Color):
  • She painted her nails a vibrant cherry. (Noun)
  • He drives a cherry red sports car. (Adjective)

Advanced Usage

• "a bite at the cherry": (British English idiom) an opportunity to do or achieve something.
  • This is your second bite at the cherry; don't waste it.
• "cherry on the cake" / "cherry on top": (Idiom) an additional benefit or enhancement that makes something already good even better.
  • Winning the award was great, and the bonus was the cherry on the cake.

Variants and Related Words

• Cherrywood (n): The wood of a cherry tree.
  • The cabinet is crafted from fine cherrywood.
• Cherry-red (adj): Having a bright red color like a cherry.
  • She wore cherry-red lipstick.

Synonyms

• Fruit: None that are exact, but related fruits include , .
• Color: , , , .

Related Phrases

• To cherry-pick (phrasal verb): To selectively choose (only the best or most desirable items from a group).
  • The coach was accused of cherry-picking the most talented players for his team.

Related Idioms

• Life is just a bowl of cherries: (Idiom) Life is pleasant and carefree. Often used ironically.
  • He thinks life is just a bowl of cherries, but he has many responsibilities.
• To lose one's cherry: (Informal/Slang idiom) To lose one's virginity.
  • This usage is very informal and may be considered vulgar.

Adjective

1. of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies

Noun

1. a red the color of ripe cherries
2. a red fruit with a single hard stone
3. any of numerous trees and shrubs producing a small fleshy round fruit with a single hard stone; many also produce a valuable hardwood
4. wood of any of various cherry trees especially the black cherry