tomato
/tə'mɑ:tou/
Definition
Noun 1. A plant (Solanum lycopersicum): A plant native to South America, widely cultivated in many varieties for its edible fruit. 2. The fruit of this plant: A mildly acid, typically red or yellow, pulpy fruit eaten as a vegetable.
Examples
- Noun (Plant):
- She grows several tomato plants in her garden every summer.
- The tomato is a member of the nightshade family.
- Noun (Fruit):
- I added a fresh tomato to the salad.
- The recipe calls for two pounds of ripe tomatoes.
Advanced Usage
- "Like two peas in a pod" / "Like apples and oranges": While not a direct idiom with "tomato," the phrase "to compare apples and oranges" (to compare two things that are fundamentally different) is conceptually opposite to comparing two very similar things, like two tomatoes from the same vine.
- "To throw tomatoes at": This phrase originates from the historical practice of audiences throwing rotten tomatoes at poor performers on stage as a sign of disapproval.
- The comedian's jokes were so bad, I thought the crowd might throw tomatoes.
Variants and Related Words
- Tomatoey / Tomatoy (adj): Having the flavor or characteristics of tomatoes.
- The soup had a strong, tomatoey taste.
- Compound words using "tomato":
- Tomato sauce: A sauce made primarily from tomatoes.
- Tomato paste: A thick concentrate made by cooking tomatoes.
- Cherry tomato: A very small variety of tomato.
- Beefsteak tomato: A large, meaty variety of tomato.
Synonyms
- Fruit (when used culinarily as a fruit): Berry (botanically, a tomato is a berry).
- Vegetable (when used culinarily as a vegetable): There is no perfect single-word synonym. Descriptive terms like "red fruit" or "salad vegetable" may be used contextually.
Related Phrases
- "Ketchup" / "Tomato ketchup": A thick, cold sauce made from tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, and spices. While "ketchup" contains tomato, it is a distinct product and not a direct synonym for "tomato."
- "Tomato juice": The juice extracted from tomatoes, often drunk as a beverage or used in cocktails like a Bloody Mary.
Noun
-
native to South America; widely cultivated in many varieties
-
mildly acid red or yellow pulpy fruit eaten as a vegetable
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