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
The meal is $129.95 and includes a 10- to 12-pound turkey or half-ham, and numerous sides including mac and cheese, cornbread dressing, gravy, cranberry sauce, rolls and an 8-inch cherry, pumpkin or apple pie.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 21 Nov. 2024
Sabrina Carpenter launched her Phoenix concert with 'Taste' Carpenter's theatrics and facial expressions throughout the night were enough to keep you entertained all on their own, and her strong vocals were the cherry on top of a fun evening.
—Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 14 Nov. 2024
On Earth Day in 2022, President Joe Biden stood among cherry blossoms and towering Douglas firs in a Seattle park to declare the importance of big, old trees.
—April Ehrlich, ProPublica, 12 Nov. 2024
Peach cobbler flavors include caramel apple cobbler, apple walnut raisin cobbler, and cherry cobbler.
—Gary Stern, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cherry 
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Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 21 Nov. 2024
Sabrina Carpenter launched her Phoenix concert with 'Taste' Carpenter's theatrics and facial expressions throughout the night were enough to keep you entertained all on their own, and her strong vocals were the cherry on top of a fun evening.
—Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 14 Nov. 2024
On Earth Day in 2022, President Joe Biden stood among cherry blossoms and towering Douglas firs in a Seattle park to declare the importance of big, old trees.
—April Ehrlich, ProPublica, 12 Nov. 2024
Peach cobbler flavors include caramel apple cobbler, apple walnut raisin cobbler, and cherry cobbler.
—Gary Stern, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cherry
Dictionary Entries Near cherry
Cite this Entry
“Cherry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cherry. Accessed 30 Nov. 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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