Definition

1. Noun:
   • A cherry preserved in true or imitation maraschino liqueur. This is a bright red, sweet, and often artificially colored and flavored cherry used as a garnish or ingredient in desserts and cocktails.
   • A Dalmatian bitter wild cherry tree (Prunus cerasus marasca) whose fruit is used to make the traditional maraschino liqueur.

Examples

• Noun (Preserved fruit):
  • He ordered an ice cream sundae with a maraschino cherry on top.
  • The recipe calls for two maraschino cherries to decorate the cake.
• Noun (Tree):
  • The maraschino cherry is native to parts of Croatia. (This usage is less common in everyday language.)

Advanced Usage

• The term can refer to the traditional method of preserving cherries in maraschino liqueur, which results in a less vividly colored, more nuanced flavor, or the modern, mass-produced version using syrup, artificial flavor, and bright red food coloring.
• In a metaphorical sense, "maraschino cherry" can describe something that serves as a small, sweet, and decorative finishing touch.

Variants and Related Words

• Maraschino: A clear, sweet liqueur made from marasca cherries.
• Cocktail cherry: A more general term for a preserved cherry used in drinks, which may or may not be a maraschino cherry.

Synonyms

• Garnish cherry (specifically for the preserved fruit used as decoration).
• Glacé cherry (a similar candied cherry, but typically not preserved in liqueur and often used in baking).

Related Phrases

• With a cherry on top: An idiomatic expression meaning with an extra, desirable finishing touch. This phrase is inspired by the practice of topping desserts with a maraschino cherry.

Noun

1. cherry preserved in true or imitation maraschino liqueur
2. Dalmatian bitter wild cherry tree bearing fruit whose juice is made into maraschino liqueur