beach plum

noun

: a shrubby plum (Prunus maritima) having white flowers and growing chiefly along the northeastern coast of North America
also : its edible usually dark purple fruit that is used especially in preserves

Examples of beach plum 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.
Insects, crustaceans, bayberries and beach plums await the roughly one million birds that rest here before continuing south. Adam Erace, WSJ, 12 Oct. 2023 Native plants like bluestem grass, bayberry, and beach plum were cultivated to give texture and guide the sight lines. Chloe Schama, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1741, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of beach plum was in 1741

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Cite this Entry

“Beach plum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beach%20plum. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

beach plum

noun
: a shrubby plum with showy flowers that grows along the Atlantic coast of the northern U.S. and Canada
also : its dark purple fruit often used in preserves
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