/ ˈtʃeri; NAmE / noun , adjective
■ noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
[ C ] a small soft round fruit with shiny red or black skin and a large seed inside
2.
(also ˈcherry tree ) [ C ] a tree on which cherries grow, or a similar tree, grown for its flowers :
cherry blossom
a winter-flowering cherry
3.
(also cherry·wood / ˈtʃeriwʊd; NAmE /) [ U ] the wood of the cherry tree
4.
(also ˌcherry ˈred ) [ U ] a bright red colour
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IDIOMS
see bite noun
■ adjective
(also ˌcherry ˈred ) bright red in colour :
cherry lips
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old Northern French cherise , from medieval Latin ceresia , based on Greek kerasos cherry tree, cherry. The final - s was lost because cherise was interpreted as plural (compare with pea ).