Fruit

Definition

Fruit is a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to the mature ovary of a flowering plant, often containing seeds, and typically edible. It can also mean the result or reward of an action. As a verb, it means to bear fruit or to produce results.

Parts of Speech

• Noun
• Verb

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /fruːt/
• Respelling: FROOT

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /fruːt/
• Respelling: FROOT

Etymology

The word "fruit" originates from the Latin "fructus," meaning "enjoyment, produce, or fruit," derived from "frui," meaning "to enjoy." It passed into Old French as "fruit" and was adopted into Middle English in the 12th century, maintaining its botanical and metaphorical meanings.

Derivatives

• Fruity (adjective)
• Fruition (noun)
• Fruiter (noun)
• Fruitful (adjective)
• Fruitless (adjective)

Synonyms

• Produce
• Berry
• Harvest

Antonyms

• Vegetable (context-specific)
• None

Usage

The noun "fruit" is used in botanical, culinary, and metaphorical contexts, e.g., "The tree produces delicious fruit every summer," or "His hard work bore fruit." The verb form is used in sentences like "The plant has started to fruit."

Related Terms

• Vegetable: A plant or part of a plant used as food, typically savory.
• Seed: The reproductive unit of a flowering plant, often contained in fruit.
• Harvest: The process of gathering mature crops or produce.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• The mature ovary of a flowering plant, often edible and containing seeds: Refers to a botanical product.
  • Example: "Apples and bananas are common fruits."
• The result or reward of an action: Describes an outcome or achievement.
  • Example: "Their efforts yielded the fruit of success."

Verb

• To bear fruit: Refers to the production of fruit by plants.
  • Example: "The apple tree is beginning to fruit."
• To produce results: Describes yielding an outcome from efforts or actions.
  • Example: "His hard work is finally fruiting."