Search

[cher-ee] /ˈtʃɛr i/

noun, plural cherries.
1.
the fruit of any of various trees belonging to the genus Prunus, of the rose family, consisting of a pulpy, globular drupe enclosing a one-seeded smooth stone.
2.
the tree bearing such a fruit.
3.
the wood of such a tree.
4.
any of various fruits or plants resembling the cherry.
5.
bright red; cerise.
6.
Slang: Often Vulgar.

7.
Slang.

8.
Underworld Slang. a first offender.
9.
Bowling. the striking down of only the forward pin or pins in attempting to make a spare.
adjective
10.
bright-red; cerise.
11.
(of food and beverages) made with or containing cherries or cherrylike flavoring:
cherry pie; cherry soda.
12.
(of furniture, woodwork, etc.) made of or covered or decorated with wood from the cherry tree.
13.
Slang: Often Vulgar. being a virgin.
14.
Slang.

/ˈtʃɛrɪ/
noun (pl) -ries
1.
any of several trees of the rosaceous genus Prunus, such as P. avium (sweet cherry), having a small fleshy rounded fruit containing a hard stone See also bird cherry
2.
the fruit or wood of any of these trees
3.
any of various unrelated plants, such as the ground cherry and Jerusalem cherry
4.

5.
(slang) virginity or the hymen as its symbol
6.
(modifier) of or relating to the cherry fruit or wood: cherry tart
n.

c.1300, earlier in surname Chyrimuth (1266, literally “Cherry-mouth”); from Anglo-French cherise, from Old North French cherise (Old French, Modern French cerise, 12c.), from Vulgar Latin *ceresia, from late Greek kerasian “cherry,” from Greek kerasos “cherry tree,” possibly from a language of Asia Minor. Mistaken in Middle English for a plural and stripped of its -s (cf. pea).

Old English had ciris “cherry” from a West Germanic borrowing of the Vulgar Latin word (cf. German Kirsch), but it died out after the Norman invasion and was replaced by the French word. Meaning “maidenhead, virginity” is from 1889, U.S. slang, from supposed resemblance to the hymen, but perhaps also from the long-time use of cherries as a symbol of the fleeting quality of life’s pleasures.

noun

The flashing lights atop a police car or other emergency vehicle; gumball, party hat (1980s+)

adjective

modifier

In mint condition; pristine: Mint is what I’m saying. Cherry/ including cherry restorations of Belairs and Fairlanes from the Fifties (1950s+ Hot rodders)

noun

Related Terms

cop a cherry, have one’s cherry, pop someone’s cherry

[sexual senses fr the fancied resemblance between the hymen and a cherry]