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cherry
/ˈt͡ʃɛɹi/
The primary image is one of vividness, sweetness, and compact perfection. It evokes a sense of brightness—both in color and taste—often associated with spring blossoms or indulgent desserts. When used metaphorically, it shifts from a literal fruit to a symbol of the 'ultimate' addition or a crowning achievement. This carries a strongly positive connotation of luxury or completion. In technical or slang contexts (like signal lights), the word leans on the visual association with the bright red hue of the fruit rather than its taste or growth.
Countable when referring to the individual fruits on a tree or the trees themselves ('a bowl of cherries'). Uncountable when referring to the fruit as a flavor, ingredient, or color ('cherry filling' or 'painted cherry red').
Meanings
Collocations & Compounds
cherry pie
A pie with a filling made from cherries.
We baked a delicious cherry pie.
cherry blossom
The flower of a cherry tree.
The cherry blossoms are beautiful.
cherry red
A bright, vivid red color.
Her lipstick was cherry red.
wild cherry
A species of cherry tree that grows naturally.
We found wild cherries in the forest.
sweet cherry
A variety of cherry that is sweet and typically eaten fresh.
These sweet cherries are perfect for snacking.
Idioms & Sayings
the cherry on top
An extra, often delightful, thing that makes a good situation even better.
Winning the lottery was the cherry on top of my amazing year.
cherry-pick
To select only the best or most desirable items from a group.
The manager had to cherry-pick the best candidates for the team.
Etymology
The word 'cherry' traces its origins back to the Proto-Germanic word 'kirs-' or 'kers-' which likely referred to the fruit. This root was borrowed into Latin as 'cerasum', and subsequently into Greek as 'kerasos'. The Latin form 'cerasum' is thought to have been influenced by a word from an Anatolian language, possibly Carian, from which the Greek name 'kerasos' also derived. The word entered Old English as 'cirise', which evolved into the Middle English 'cherise' and finally into the modern English 'cherry'. The journey of the word mirrors the journey of the fruit itself, which was introduced to Europe from the region of modern-day Turkey by the Romans.