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
Wines are typically pale to medium pink, with flavors of red cherry, earth and a hint of salt from nearby coastal breezes.
—Rachel King, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
Atomic decor is notably defined by starburst and sputnik designs, metal finishes like chrome and gold, fun geometric shapes, and bold colors like mustard yellow, turquoise, cherry red, and avocado green.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 7 June 2025
For Washington, Hendricks getting his 100th win was the cherry on top of a win over a division rival.
—Benjamin Royer, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2025
For Worse makes ultra-concentrated mocktails—Rose City Spritz packs berries, cherries, and bitter orange into a petite can for a lovely slow-sipper.
—Erin Hooker, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cherry
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Rachel King, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
Atomic decor is notably defined by starburst and sputnik designs, metal finishes like chrome and gold, fun geometric shapes, and bold colors like mustard yellow, turquoise, cherry red, and avocado green.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 7 June 2025
For Washington, Hendricks getting his 100th win was the cherry on top of a win over a division rival.
—Benjamin Royer, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2025
For Worse makes ultra-concentrated mocktails—Rose City Spritz packs berries, cherries, and bitter orange into a petite can for a lovely slow-sipper.
—Erin Hooker, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cherry
Cite this Entry
“Cherry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cherry. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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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