fruit
(fruːt )
Word forms: fruit , fruits , fruits , fruiting , fruited
1. variable noun A1
Fruit or a fruit is something which grows on a tree or bush and which contains seeds or a stone covered by a substance that you can eat.
Fresh fruit and vegetables provide fibre and vitamins.
...bananas and other tropical fruits.
Try to eat at least one piece of fruit a day.
2. verb
If a plant fruits, it produces fruit.
The scientists will study the variety of trees and observe which are fruiting. [VERB]
3. countable noun
The fruits or the fruit of someone's work or activity are the good things that result from it.
The team have really worked hard and are enjoying the fruits of that labour. [+ of]
The findings are the fruit of more than three years' research.
Synonyms: result, reward, outcome, end result
4. See also dried fruit, forbidden fruit, kiwi fruit, passion fruit
5. to bear fruit phrase
If the effort that you put into something or a particular way of doing something bears fruit, it is successful and produces good results.
Eleanor's work among the women will, I trust, bear fruit.
He was naturally disappointed when the talks failed to bear fruit.
6. the first fruits phrase
The first fruits or the first fruit of a project or activity are its earliest results or profits.
This project is one of the first fruits of commercial co-operation between the two countries. [+ of]
Image of fruit
© Karramba Production, Shutterstock
Quotations:
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit Bible: St. Matthew
He that would eat the fruit must climb the tree
Idioms:
forbidden fruit
something that you want very much but are not allowed to have
Knowing that from now on you can't eat chocolate or have sugar in your tea can make you want those forbidden fruits even more.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
bear fruit
to produce good results
People see material conditions getting worse. They don't see the economic reforms championed by the President as bearing fruit.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Collocations:
fruit compote fruit garden fruit grower fruit orchard fruit pie fruit punch fruit ripens fruit seeds fruit slice fruit syrup fruit tea fruit yogurt grow fruit harvest fruit juicy fruit organic fruit overripe fruit peel fruit pick fruit piece of fruit pluck a fruit produce fruit raw fruit ripe fruit rotten fruit seasonal fruit sweet fruit tropical fruit yield fruit
A hot apple sauce or fruit compote makes a more virtuous topping.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Hot bananas and fruit compote Peel a banana, lay on some foil and sprinkle with a little orange juice and brown sugar.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Next up is a trifle, only this one is made with a cooked fruit compote and - shock!
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Pile them high and top with a fruit compote, or mash a ripe banana into the mixture and sweeten with a splash of maple syrup.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Porridge with fruit compote has 267, a happy medium.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
All that remained from that early period was the lemon house and the walled fruit garden.
Times, Sunday Times
In those contexts it could be interpreted as an orchard or a fruit garden.
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This was similar to the earlier fruit garden of the original abbey.
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The castle had a round tower in each corner, and a park, fruit garden and kitchen garden.
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Behind the house were vegetable and fruit gardens and, farther north, an orchard.
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He was an educated fruit grower and a bee-keeper.
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He was an expert fruit grower who developed new varieties of apples.
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Parish occupations included four farmers, a poultry farmer, and a fruit grower.
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Globally, that translates as about 7m coffee, tea and cocoa farmers, fruit growers and their families whose lives have been changed for the good.
Times, Sunday Times
Fruit growers tell me it will turn the clock back 20 years.
The Sun
Outside, the 11,766 sq metre plot has a fruit orchard, a pool, a tennis court and a sun terrace.
Times, Sunday Times
A vegetable garden and fruit orchard serve the fully organic restaurant, while spacious balconies and a small but perfect pool offer views over the lake.
Times, Sunday Times
The garden consists of over 50 herbs and spices, and also contains a butterfly garden and fruit orchard.
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Only four acres were cultivated for vegetable and flower gardens and a fruit orchard.
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He engaged in agricultural pursuits and conducted a fruit orchard.
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Finally, my favourite fruit pie: raspberry and redcurrant.
Times, Sunday Times
For example, 'fruit pie' yields results for apple pie, plum pie and so forth.
Times, Sunday Times
Pudding will be something simple, leading neatly from lunch to afternoon tea: a fruit pie or a date-andwalnut cake, for instance.
Times, Sunday Times
She also makes a mean fruit pie.
Times,Sunday Times
There he broke two more world records, for 60 and 100 miles, pausing at the half-way point for a meal of soup, chicken, vegetables and fruit pie.
The Times Literary Supplement
First there was the long line of smiling staff at the hotel entrance greeting us with glasses of fruit punch.
Times, Sunday Times
Guests drift around the clifftop terrace sipping from glasses of fruit punch, or stretch on the sandy beach below.
Times, Sunday Times
Drinking fruit punch also put the volunteers at a higher risk.
The Sun
Make a fruit punch that delivers its flavours layer by layer.
Times, Sunday Times
If ever there was a slight wait (water-skiing, for example) it was hardly a chore to pass 15 minutes on the beach with a fruit punch in hand.
Times, Sunday Times
At present the fruit is ripening on the twigs, and looks like small brown cherries.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Its fruit ripen in early autumn.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Seeds and fruit are ripening on the trees.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In fact, the grains are fruit seeds of the rhubarb family.
Times, Sunday Times
Sprinkle over the raspberries and spoon over the passion fruit seeds.
Times, Sunday Times
Stir in 1 tbsp of the reserved passion fruit seeds, then spoon or pipe the jelly on top of the compote.
Times, Sunday Times
Adorn with the peach mixture and passion fruit seeds.
Times,Sunday Times
In addition, it serves as both pest control, helping ecosystems by keeping down the population of invertebrates, and a means of spreading fruit seeds.
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Pour over the clementine juice and tuck the fruit slices (with skin on) around the chicken.
ST
Garnish with mixed citrus fruit slices and add ice.
The Sun
Sweet dishes combine sattu with fruit slices, sugar and milk.
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He also throws large hoop-shaped fruit slices.
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Drizzle with the mustard fruit syrup or honey and serve.
Times, Sunday Times
Strain and reserve 200ml of the fruit syrup.
Times, Sunday Times
They all contain honey, fruit nectars, fruit syrups and agave nectar - which all count as added sugar.
The Sun
Some of them are topped with canned fruits, fruits syrup and condensed milk.
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They are usually served as a sweet breakfast food, topped with butter and maple syrup, bacon, and other fruit syrups, honey, or powdered sugar.
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Only nine per cent of people drink more herbal or fruit tea than anything else.
The Sun
Over the same period sales of herbal and fruit tea have risen by a third.
Times, Sunday Times
Instead, have a herbal or fruit tea with a slow energy-release breakfast such as porridge.
The Sun
This can be ordinary tea or tea made with a fruit tea bag (any fruit flavour will do).
Times, Sunday Times
Jelly tea has been a massive hit - fruit tea with a couple of chunks of jelly stirred in until it dissolves.
The Sun
Put the fruit into a bowl and top with 100g of sugar free fruit yogurt and then with a tablespoon of lower fat granola.
The Sun
Mix equal quantities of puréed raspberries with natural or fruit yogurt.
The Sun
Follow with half a banana and a handful of raspberries topped with 2tbsp low-fat fruit yogurt per person.
The Sun
Also add cherry tomatoes, a digestive biscuit and a fruit yogurt.
The Sun
Eat with an apple, banana and small fruit yogurt.
The Sun
For example, we are developing an onsite allotment that will be used to grow fruit and veg for the school canteen.
Times, Sunday Times
The farm will continue to grow fruit for its range of jam.
The Sun
If they pass this up, they might as well go and grow fruit.
Times, Sunday Times
If you want to continue to grow fruit, espaliered trees will produce crops at lower levels that are thus easier to reach.
Times, Sunday Times
There seems to be a sizeable group of people in the area who grow fruit and vegetables and there are dairy farms and livestock farms close by.
ST
The group worked to build roads as well as harvest fruit in the neighboring orchards in the developing area.
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No one enters private property, gardens, barns or other buildings and harvests fruit or vegetables not belonging to them.
Times, Sunday Times
He returned to his family's house at weekends and during vacations, when he worked on local farms harvesting fruit or in the cafe, selling coffee and cigarettes.
Times, Sunday Times
When harvesting fruit, they should be cut from the tree rather than risking damage by pulling the stalks.
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Residents harvested fruit and vegetables such as cantaloupes, corn, figs, pears and watermelons.
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This should ensure an early crop of succulent, juicy fruit.
Times, Sunday Times
For nails, the milkier the better — think peach yoghurt, rather than juicy fruit.
Times, Sunday Times
There's something rather special about bringing home a couple of punnets packed with juicy fruit you've picked yourself; somehow it makes every bite taste sweeter.
Times, Sunday Times
We also liked the jewel-toned relaxation room, with beds, drapes and slices of juicy fruit.
Times, Sunday Times
However, there has not been enough sunshine to produce a good crop of large, juicy fruit.
Times, Sunday Times
But when the time came to strike out on his own, instead of livestock farming he plumped for growing and selling organic fruit and vegetables.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Just over a year ago, folk were merrily loading up their shopping trolleys with organic fruit and veg, fair-trade coffee and free-range chicken.
The Sun (2009)
Aeroponics farms grow organic fruit, vegetables and herbs.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
And of course it's a great way to use up gluts from the garden, or any cheap, almost overripe fruit from the local shop.
The Sun
Pick any ripe or nearly ripe produce because overripe fruit and veg can encourage rot, disease and wasps.
Times, Sunday Times
Ethanol naturally occurs in ripe and overripe fruit and consequently early primates developed a genetically based attraction to the substance.
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Ethanol can commonly be found in overripe fruit.
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It has lashings of bouncy, citrus peel fruit and a fine smoky finish.
Times, Sunday Times
After all, the pre-boiled egg has been around for a decade, as has peeled fruit.
Times,Sunday Times
They flog ready-washed, bagged lettuce and peeled fruit, don't they?
Times, Sunday Times
Are we supposed to listen to a man who demanded fresh, peeled fruit on his desk every day and had two cars run on the club?
The Sun
They show, on a larger scale than earlier works, complex compositions of expensive items, rare foods, and fleshy, peeling fruit.
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That means imaginative ideas like getting prisoners to pick fruit - and working out how people on the dole can put something back for their money.
The Sun (2016)
The next wave of technology will involve drones with robotic arms able to perform simple tasks such as spraying paint, picking fruit or conduct basic repairs.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He said: 'We do need a lot of unskilled labour to pick fruit.
The Sun (2015)
You want a treacle pudding warming the cockles whereas a piece of fruit leaves you cold.
The Sun (2006)
Friends often brought by something saved out from their dinner or left over at their commons, a filled bun or a piece of fruit.
THE DISPOSSESSED (1974)
Try to eat at least one piece of fruit a day and get a good variety of vegetables.
Coping with Angina (1990)
Water receded as he stooped to drink, and trees lifted their branches as he reached up to pluck their fruit.
Christianity Today
She would pluck a fruit, first taste it, and if it was sweet she would put it in her basket and discard the bitter ones.
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Pluck the fruit that grows therein, gather the roses, the spices, and the myrrh.
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The man on the tree plucked some fruits and dropped them on the ground and shook a branch as well.
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A person who accidentally plucks a fruit with a feeding hornet can be attacked by the disturbed insect.
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You must keep the plant watered but not sopping wet; it needs to be kept moist to produce fruit.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They are also self-sterile, so need other seed-grown walnuts nearby to produce fruit.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
As a result, these orchards produce fruit that is very good for you.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
You open it expecting fresh fillets of meat and fish, fresh pasta and ravioli and the freshest of organically produced fruit and veg.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
These produce fruit on short stems called spurs.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
My doctor suggested an alternative diet of raw fruit and veg for nine months.
Times, Sunday Times
You should also avoid yeasted breads, sugar, dried fruit, too much raw fruit, carbonated drinks, alcohol and fermented or pickled foods.
Times, Sunday Times
Wear gloves if gardening or changing a cat litter tray and avoid unwashed raw fruit and veg, raw or undercooked meat, and unpasteurised goat's milk or goat's cheese.
The Sun
Slice raw fruit into crisp salads (with celery, blue cheese, goat's cheese, bacon), pair sauce with duck and goose, and mix with parsnip or beetroot in mashes and soups.
Times, Sunday Times
Even acidic raw fruit can be harmful - with a twice-daily orange upping the risk by 37 times.
The Sun
The whole suite looked at first glance like some marvellously ripe fruit and flower market magically frozen into timber.
COUP D'ETAT (2003)
Pick Just ripe fruit clean and dry.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The lure of ripe fruit had made it throw caution to the wind.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
A ripe fruit has been thrown, splattered on the wall behind her.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
You may never view rotten fruit and cold bathwater in the same light again.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The room smelled of fried onions, rotten fruit, and burned cooking oil.
FOLLOW THE SHARKS (2003)
In the good old days before footballers could do no wrong they would have been greeted with a shower of rotten fruit and tomatoes.
The Sun (2014)
He was critical of modern consumers who struggled with the idea that the 70 flavours on his menu changed to reflect seasonal fruit.
Times, Sunday Times
The seasonal fruit and herb combinations are great for drinking - as well as cooking.
Times, Sunday Times
It's delicious with a scoop of lemon curd (see following recipe) or with some fresh, seasonal fruit.
Times, Sunday Times
It works just as well with apples, or berries or whatever seasonal fruit you love.
Times, Sunday Times
I love the purity of this dessert - it represents a true celebration of seasonal fruit.
Times, Sunday Times
Supple and cedary, with sweet fruit and a velvet finish.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
And without a shadow of a doubt, if you have sunshine you end up with nice sweet fruit.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Very pronounced floral bouquet, appealing sweet fruit and retaining a lightness that enhances the overall flavour.
Thorsons Organic Wine Guide (1991)
With its tropical fruit notes and salty, savoury finish, this wine is perfect as an aperitif or alongside shellfish.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The yellow flesh is crisp, honeyed and immensely sweet with no acidity, close to tropical fruit.
Food Watch (1994)
There's a touch of peach and tropical fruit, and no oak to muddy the flavours.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It's hoppy, with a malty base and tropical fruit notes.
The Sun (2017)
The two cultivars are self-pollinating, yield fruit early, and the sugar content increases while the acid content decreases as the fruit ripen.
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The trouble really begins with the origin of life: 'let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind' (1:11).
The Times Literary Supplement
They yield fruits which are legume pods measuring up to 4 centimeters long by 1.5 wide.
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These efforts were initially unsuccessful, but yielded fruit in 1940 and 1941.
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Much of the area consisted of fertile lands that yielded fruits, vegetables, and dairy products for sale in the city.
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Translations:
Chinese: 水果
Japanese: 果物