heart cherry
Noun: 1. A large, sweet cherry variety characterized by its distinct heart shape and soft, juicy flesh. 2. Any of several cultivated varieties of sweet cherry (Prunus avium) that produce sweet, juicy fruits with a heart-like shape.
The term "heart cherry" is used specifically to describe certain cultivars of sweet cherries based on their physical form and taste. It functions as a countable noun.
Examples: * The market had a beautiful display of fresh heart cherries. * For this recipe, a sweet variety like the heart cherry is recommended. * The heart cherry is prized for its delicate texture and flavor.
- In botanical or horticultural contexts, "heart cherry" can refer to specific named cultivars, such as the 'Black Tartarian' or 'Royal Ann', which are classic examples of this fruit shape.
- The term is often used contrastively with other cherry shapes, such as the round or oblate varieties.
- Sweet cherry (): The broader species to which heart cherries belong.
- Bing cherry: A popular, dark-colored cultivar of sweet cherry that is often heart-shaped.
- Gean or Mazzard: Traditional names for the wild sweet cherry, which is the ancestor of cultivated varieties including heart cherries.
- Sweet cherry
- Mazzard (in some contexts, referring to the wild form)
The primary meaning of "heart cherry" is denotative, focusing on the physical characteristics (shape: heart-like; texture: soft; taste: sweet) of the fruit. It does not typically carry idiomatic or metaphorical meanings. The "heart" in the name is purely descriptive of the fruit's form.
- large heart-shaped sweet cherry with soft flesh
- any of several cultivated sweet cherries having sweet juicy heart-shaped fruits