miracle fruit

noun

: a tropical African shrub (Synsepalum dulcificum) of the sapodilla family whose small red fruit contains a glycoprotein that when applied to the tongue causes sour substances to taste sweet
also : its fruit

Examples of miracle fruit 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.
While party-goers thrilled at the miracle fruit’s tongue-teasing trick, scientists were equally intrigued. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 26 Sep. 2011 Cortical representation of taste-modifying action of miracle fruit in humans. Eunice Liu, Discover Magazine, 6 May 2014 Straight edge: The miracle fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum), native to West Africa, contains a glycoprotein called miraculin that binds to taste receptors on the tongue and makes sour foods taste sweet. Kirsten Weir, Discover Magazine, 10 Feb. 2011

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of miracle fruit was in 1964

Dictionary Entries Near miracle fruit

Cite this Entry

“Miracle fruit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/miracle%20fruit. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!