acerola

noun

ac·​er·​o·​la ˌa-sə-ˈrō-lə 

: any of several tropical American shrubs (genus Malpighia of the family Malpighiaceae)

especially : a large shrub or small tree (Malpighia emarginata synonym M. glabra) found from Texas to northern South America and the West Indies that has mildly acid cherrylike fruits very rich in vitamin C

Examples of acerola in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Hello, antioxidant-rich mango butter, vitamin-C spiked acerola extract, and hydrating watermelon seed oil, just to name a few. —Nikhita Mahtani, Allure, 22 Apr. 2024

In a follow-up statement to NBC News, the company said ingredients included in the new product lineup include bamboo fiber, mushroom, pea protein and acerola cherry, also known as Barbados cherry or West Indian cherry. —Rob Wile, NBC News, 6 Mar. 2024

Made with real, whole-food ingredients like acerola cherry, amla berry, and hyaluronic acid, PlantFusion Vegan Collagen Beauty is not only effective but also delicious. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 30 June 2023

Retinol has long been promoted as a beauty enhancer, and their black cherry, acerola and pomegranate concoction is the first drinkable version, the company says. —Michele Corriston, PEOPLE.com, 8 July 2019

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from American Spanish, going back to Spanish, "fruit of the hawthorn Crataegus azarolus," earlier (14th-century Aragon) azarolla, borrowed from Arabic az-zaʽrūra, from az (assimilated form of al "the") + zaʽrūra, zuʽrūra, derivative of zuʽrūr "the hawthorn Crataegus azarolus"

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

acerola

noun

ac·​er·​o·​la ˌas-ə-ˈrō-lə 

: a West Indian shrub (genus Malpighia) with mildly acid cherrylike fruits rich in vitamin C