persimmon

/pə:'simən/

Thân thiện

A ripe persimmon sits on a wooden kitchen counter.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of fruit: An orange fruit that resembles a plum in shape and size, known for its sweet taste when fully ripe but being very astringent when unripe.
   • A type of tree: Any of several tropical or subtropical trees of the genus Diospyros that bear this fruit.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Fruit):
  • The ripe persimmon was soft, sweet, and delicious.
  • Be careful not to eat an unripe persimmon, as it will make your mouth feel dry.
• Noun (Tree):
  • A large persimmon grew in the corner of the garden, providing shade in the summer.

Advanced Usage

• "To be a persimmon" (figurative, rare): Used informally to describe something that is deceptively appealing but potentially unpleasant if not ready or handled correctly, drawing on the fruit's astringent quality when unripe.
  • That deal looks good, but it might be a persimmon—we need to check the fine print.

Variants and Related Words

• Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki): The most widely cultivated species of persimmon.
  • The Japanese persimmon is the variety most commonly found in supermarkets.
• American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana): A species native to the eastern United States.
  • American persimmons are smaller than their Asian cousins but very flavorful after a frost.
• Fuyu, Hachiya: Common cultivar names for specific types of Japanese persimmons, differing in shape (Fuyu is squat, Hachiya is acorn-shaped) and astringency.

Synonyms

• Date plum: An alternative name sometimes used for certain types of persimmons.
• Kaki: The Japanese name for the fruit, often used in English in botanical or culinary contexts.

Related Phrases

• Persimmon pudding: A traditional dessert, particularly in some regions of the United States, made from the pulp of the fruit.
  • For Thanksgiving, her family always makes persimmon pudding.
• Persimmon wood: The wood from the persimmon tree, known for its hardness and use in golf club heads and tool handles.
  • The finest golf club heads have traditionally been made from persimmon wood.

Học thuật

Noun

1. orange fruit resembling a plum; edible when fully ripe
2. any of several tropical trees of the genus Diospyros

Từ đồng nghĩa

• persimmon tree