fruit
gb/fɹˈut/ us/fɹˈut/
A1
English
~ 1900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
entity
1
Edible seed-containing plant part
The sweet part of a plant that we can eat, often with seeds inside.
Usage pattern:
[someone] eats [fruit]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'fruit' with 'fruits'. In general, 'fruit' is used as an uncountable noun when talking about it in general, and 'fruits' is used for different kinds of fruit.
Synonyms
produce (Refers to fruits and vegetables collectively; less specific to only fruit.)
Antonyms
vegetable (Refers to edible plant parts that are not sweet fruits, such as roots or leaves.)
Collocations
fresh fruit
|ripe fruit
|tropical fruit
|fruit salad
|seasonal fruit
Themes
food
|nature
|daily life
|food_drink
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I bought some fresh fruit from the market.
- Bananas are my favorite fruit.
- The tree produces a small red fruit in summer.
- Eating more fruit can improve your health.
- She made a pie with fresh fruit from the garden.
Learner examples
- An apple is a kind of fruit.
- I like to eat fruit every day.
- We put fruit in the basket.
- This shop sells many kinds of fruit.
Noun
B2
entity
2
Result of action or effort
The good result you get after working hard or doing something.
Usage pattern:
the fruit of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may not recognize that this sense is metaphorical and not about actual food.
Synonyms
result (A neutral term for any outcome; not limited to positive ones.)
Antonyms
failure (Represents the absence or opposite of a successful result.)
Collocations
fruit of labor
|bear fruit
|enjoy the fruits
Themes
work
|achievement
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The project was the fruit of years of research.
- Their hard work finally bore fruit.
- We are now enjoying the fruits of our success.
Learner examples
- This book is the fruit of his study.
- Her plan bore fruit after many months.
- They enjoy the fruit of their work.
Grammar
Dictionary form
fruit
IPA
GB/fɹˈut/
US/fɹˈut/
Syllables & stress
fruit (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (fruit)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: fruit
- Plural: fruit, fruits
Word family
Expressions
bear fruit
1/bˈɛɹ fɹˈut/
idiom
Produce successful result
To have a good result after working or trying for some time.
Examples
- Her efforts to improve the school are beginning to bear fruit.
- The advertising campaign has finally borne fruit with increased sales.
fruit of one's labor
1/fɹˈut əv wˈʌnz lˈeɪbɚ/
idiom
Result of one's work
The good things you get because of your hard work.
Examples
- They are enjoying the fruits of their labor after years of dedication.
- The festival was the fruit of their labor for months.
low-hanging fruit
1/lˈoʊ hˈæŋɪŋ fɹˈut/
idiom
informal
Easy task or target
Something that is very easy to do or get.
Examples
- We should deal with the low-hanging fruit before tackling harder problems.
- Cutting unnecessary costs is low-hanging fruit for improving profits.
forbidden fruit
1/fɚbˈɪdən fɹˈut/
idiom
literary
Desired but prohibited thing
Something you want but are not allowed to have or do.
Examples
- Sneaking into the abandoned house felt like tasting forbidden fruit.
- For many teenagers, alcohol is forbidden fruit.
- For him, breaking the rules was a kind of forbidden fruit.
- The secret club had the allure of forbidden fruit.
forbidden fruit
1/fɚbˈɪdən fɹˈut/
idiom
Tempting because not allowed
something you want more because you are not allowed to have it
Examples
- For teenagers, movies their parents ban can become forbidden fruit.
- The secrecy made the relationship feel like forbidden fruit.
- Luxury goods were forbidden fruit during the years of strict rationing.