fruit

1. 1

   A product of fertilization in a plant, specificallycountableuncountable

   • [A]fter the flower is past commeth the fruit in long pods, every seede bunching out like the pods of Orobus and as bigge almost as the smaller Pease.
2. 2

   A product of fertilization in a plant, specifically:; The seed-bearing part of a plant; often edible, colourful, fragrant, and sweet or sour; produced from a floral ovary after fertilization.countableuncountable

3. 3

   A product of fertilization in a plant, specifically:; The spores of cryptogams and their accessory organs.countableuncountable

4. 4

   Any sweet or sour, edible part of a plant that resembles seed-bearing fruit (see former sense) even if it does not develop from a floral ovary.countableuncountable

   • It’s true that agriculture at the time was organic, food was locally produced and there were no ultraprocessed foods. But fresh fruits and vegetables were in short supply because they were difficult to ship and because growing seasons were
5. 5

   Any sweet or sour, edible part of a plant that resembles seed-bearing fruit (see former sense) even if it does not develop from a floral ovary.; A sweet or sweetish vegetable, such as the petioles of rhubarb, that resembles a true fruit or is used in cookery as if it was a fruit.countableuncountable

6. 6

   An end result, effect, or consequence; advantageous or disadvantageous result.countableuncountable

   • His long nights in the office eventually bore fruit when his business boomed and he was given a raise.
   • He spent his retirement enjoying the fruits of his labour.
7. 7

   Of, belonging to, related to, or having fruit or its characteristics; (of living things) producing or consuming fruit.attributivecountableuncountable

   • fresh-squeezed fruit juice
   • a fruit salad
8. 8

   A homosexual man, especially an effeminate one.colloquialcountabledated

   • "Moishe just checked in," he said. "He's a panhandler and a fruit. A disgrace to the Jewish race."
   • I'm not talking to this twisted fruit anymore!
9. 9

   An effeminate man.countablederogatoryfiguratively

10. 10

    Offspring from a sexual union.archaiccountableuncountable

    • The litter was the fruit of the union between our whippet and their terrier.
    • fruit of one's loins

syn. fruit

1. 1

   To produce fruit, seeds, or spores.intransitive

   • For example, chanterelles and russulas can start fruiting in early to mid summer given sufficient moisture, but other species, such as matsutake, rarely fruit until temperatures cool in the autumn, even if moisture is available earlier.
   • The grass and weeds come up to my waist and the plum trees are already fruiting up, though most of the fruit'll go to the wasps and the worms, Vinny says, 'cause he can't be arsed to pick it.