raspberry
/ˈɹɑːzbɹi/
A small, tart-sweet red fruit known for its hollow center and delicate structure. In a culinary context, it evokes notions of luxury, refinement, and summer freshness, often associated with desserts or high-end confectionery.
In British English, 'blowing a raspberry' refers to the act of sticking out one's tongue and vibrating the lips to create a flatulent sound. This usage is playful, childish, and mocking, shifting the word from a botanical context to a gesture of irreverence.
💬Casual Conversation
The budget spreadsheet keeps crashing. This is a disaster.
The budget spreadsheet keeps crashing. This is a disaster.
Just blow a raspberry at it, Jess. It's agile development, we'll iterate.
Just blow a raspberry at it, Jess. It's agile development, we'll iterate.
Meanings
Collocations & Compounds
raspberry leaf
The leaf of the raspberry plant, often used in herbal teas.
Many pregnant women drink raspberry leaf tea in their final trimester.
raspberry bush
A shrub that produces raspberries.
We planted a new raspberry bush in the garden this spring.
raspberry jam
A preserve made from raspberries and sugar.
She spread thick raspberry jam on her toast.
raspberry tart
A baked dessert with a pastry base filled with raspberries.
For dessert, we had a delicious homemade raspberry tart.
raspberry ripple
A type of ice cream with swirls of raspberry sauce.
My favorite flavor as a child was raspberry ripple.
Idioms & Sayings
raspberry
A sound made with the tongue against the roof of the mouth, often to express derision or contempt.
He blew a loud raspberry at the referee after the controversial call.
Etymology
The word 'raspberry' comes from the Middle English word 'raspe-rye', which itself is derived from the Old English 'ræsp' meaning 'grasp' or 'clasp', referring to the way the berry clings to its stem. The '-berry' suffix is common to many fruit names. It entered the English language likely around the 15th century.