plural cherries
1
a
: any of numerous trees and shrubs (genus Prunus) of the rose family that bear pale yellow to deep red or blackish smooth-skinned drupes enclosing a smooth seed and that include some cultivated for their fruits or ornamental flowers compare sour cherry, sweet cherry
b
: the fruit of a cherry
c
: the reddish-brown wood of a cherry
especially
: black cherry sense 2
2
: a variable color averaging a moderate red
4
informal
: the burning end of a lit cigarette or cigar
I'm horrified: Dag is burning holes in the roof of the car with the cherry of his cigarette.—
Douglas Coupland
Douglas Coupland"Oh lord. Be quiet and maybe he won't find me. Put out your cigarette, Ryder, he'll see the cherry."—Julie Buntin
Julie BuntinExamples of cherry in a Sentence
The kitchen cabinets are made of cherry.
Recent Examples on the Web
The cemetery, which stretches across 478 acres, is also a great place to go on walks, check out cherry blossoms in the springtime, and explore the Green-Wood Arboretum.
—Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
Mount Fuji looms on the horizon, cherry blossoms line the roads, and Buddhist temples dot the foothills.
—Mark Dent, HubSpot, 8 May 2026
The official tasting notes describe crisp oak, sweet vanilla, and candied fruit on the nose, followed by ripe berries, honey, and caramel on the palate, finishing with cherry and creamy barrel tones.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 8 May 2026
Whether coming from the pool or out-and-about, heading back to the rooms at Solé is a perfect cherry-on-top to the day.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cherry
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Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
Mount Fuji looms on the horizon, cherry blossoms line the roads, and Buddhist temples dot the foothills.
—Mark Dent, HubSpot, 8 May 2026
The official tasting notes describe crisp oak, sweet vanilla, and candied fruit on the nose, followed by ripe berries, honey, and caramel on the palate, finishing with cherry and creamy barrel tones.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 8 May 2026
Whether coming from the pool or out-and-about, heading back to the rooms at Solé is a perfect cherry-on-top to the day.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cherry
Cite this Entry
“Cherry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cherry. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cherry
noun
cher·ry
ˈcher-ē 
plural cherries
1
a
: any of numerous trees and shrubs that are related to the roses and have rather small pale yellow to deep blackish red smooth-skinned fruits
b
: the fruit of a cherry
c
: the reddish brown wood of a cherry
2
: a medium red
Etymology
Middle English chery "a cherry," from early French cherise "the cherry" (mistaken as being a plural), derived from Latin cerasus "cherry tree"
Medical Definition
cherry
noun
cher·ry
ˈcher-ē
plural cherries
1
: any of numerous trees and shrubs (genus Prunus) of the rose family that bear pale yellow to deep red or blackish smooth-skinned drupes enclosing a smooth seed and that belong to any of several varieties including some cultivated for their fruits or ornamental flowers
2
: the fruit of a cherry
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