plural cherries
1
a
: any of numerous trees and shrubs (genus Prunus) of the rose family that bear pale yellow to deep red or blackish smooth-skinned drupes enclosing a smooth seed and that include some cultivated for their fruits or ornamental flowers compare sour cherry, sweet cherry
b
: the fruit of a cherry
c
: the reddish-brown wood of a cherry
especially
: black cherry sense 2
2
: a variable color averaging a moderate red
4
informal
: the burning end of a lit cigarette or cigar
I'm horrified: Dag is burning holes in the roof of the car with the cherry of his cigarette.—
Douglas Coupland
Douglas Coupland"Oh lord. Be quiet and maybe he won't find me. Put out your cigarette, Ryder, he'll see the cherry."—Julie Buntin
Julie BuntinExamples of cherry in a Sentence
The kitchen cabinets are made of cherry.
Recent Examples on the Web
Native to Japan, the cherry blossom trees that draw crowds to the Washington, D.C.
—Tracy Scott Forson, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Apr. 2024
After gifting 3,000 cherry trees more than a century ago, whose blooming has come to define spring in D.C., Japan gifted an additional 250 cherry trees to the U.S. to be planted around the Tidal Basin in Washington, Kishida said Wednesday.
—USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Japan gifted 250 new cherry trees to the U.S. to replace the ones that must be removed for repairs in Washington, D.C.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
Now, Japan is sending 250 more cherry trees to Washington, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday during a visit to the White House.
—Praveena Somasundaram, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
While Kishida’s arrival missed the peak bloom of Washington’s cherry trees, many originally gifted to the US by Japan, celebrations of spring dominated the dinner with decorations of butterflies, Japanese gardens, and an artistic depiction of a koi pond.
—Michelle Jamrisko, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
Kishida announced that Japan will be gifting 250 cherry trees to the nation in celebration of the U.S.’s upcoming 250th birthday in 2026.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
The homeowner’s private quarters not only take advantage of Miami’s sunny nature by factoring in a host of windows, but also feature a walk-in closet and an ensuite bath with walnut and cherry wood accents.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2024
Green Roads Relax Bears has a flavor assortment in each package, with blue raspberry, lemon, cherry, green apple, and orange, all a combination of sweet and sour.
—Dr. Diana Rangaves, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Tracy Scott Forson, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Apr. 2024
After gifting 3,000 cherry trees more than a century ago, whose blooming has come to define spring in D.C., Japan gifted an additional 250 cherry trees to the U.S. to be planted around the Tidal Basin in Washington, Kishida said Wednesday.
—USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Japan gifted 250 new cherry trees to the U.S. to replace the ones that must be removed for repairs in Washington, D.C.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
Now, Japan is sending 250 more cherry trees to Washington, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday during a visit to the White House.
—Praveena Somasundaram, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
While Kishida’s arrival missed the peak bloom of Washington’s cherry trees, many originally gifted to the US by Japan, celebrations of spring dominated the dinner with decorations of butterflies, Japanese gardens, and an artistic depiction of a koi pond.
—Michelle Jamrisko, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
Kishida announced that Japan will be gifting 250 cherry trees to the nation in celebration of the U.S.’s upcoming 250th birthday in 2026.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
The homeowner’s private quarters not only take advantage of Miami’s sunny nature by factoring in a host of windows, but also feature a walk-in closet and an ensuite bath with walnut and cherry wood accents.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2024
Green Roads Relax Bears has a flavor assortment in each package, with blue raspberry, lemon, cherry, green apple, and orange, all a combination of sweet and sour.
—Dr. Diana Rangaves, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cherry.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near cherry
Cite this Entry
“Cherry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cherry. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cherry
noun
cher·ry
ˈcher-ē 
plural cherries
1
a
: any of numerous trees and shrubs that are related to the roses and have rather small pale yellow to deep blackish red smooth-skinned fruits
b
: the fruit of a cherry
c
: the reddish brown wood of a cherry
2
: a medium red
Etymology
Middle English chery "a cherry," from early French cherise "the cherry" (mistaken as being a plural), derived from Latin cerasus "cherry tree"
Medical Definition
cherry
noun
cher·ry
ˈcher-ē
plural cherries
1
: any of numerous trees and shrubs (genus Prunus) of the rose family that bear pale yellow to deep red or blackish smooth-skinned drupes enclosing a smooth seed and that belong to any of several varieties including some cultivated for their fruits or ornamental flowers
2
: the fruit of a cherry
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