tamarillo

noun

tam·​a·​ril·​lo ˌta-mə-ˈri-(ˌ)lō How to pronounce tamarillo (audio)
: the reddish edible fruit of an arborescent shrub (Solanum betaceum) of the nightshade family that is native to South America but is grown commercially elsewhere
also : the shrub itself

Examples of tamarillo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some videos even turn into etymology and history lessons, like this video about tree tomatoes, where Schlegel explains how they became known by the name tamarillo because of a marketing attempt by the New Zealand Tree Tomato Promotions Council to entice export buyers. Antara Sinha, Bon Appétit, 20 Dec. 2022 Vegetables: Calabaza, chayote, cherry tomato, collards, dasheen, lima bean, snap bean, Malabar spinach, malanga, New Zealand spinach, okra, hot pepper, roselle, Seminole pumpkin, Southern pea, sweet potato, tamarillo, yam and yard-long bean. 4. Tom MacCubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, 28 Apr. 2018

Word History

Etymology

alteration of tomatillo

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tamarillo was in 1966

Dictionary Entries Near tamarillo

Cite this Entry

“Tamarillo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tamarillo. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!