grape

[greyp]

noun

1. the edible, pulpy, smooth-skinned berry or fruit that grows in clusters on vines of the genus Vitis, and from which wine is made.

2. any vine bearing this fruit.

3. a dull, dark, purplish-red color.

4. (used with a singular verb),  grapes,

   1. tuberculosis occurring in cattle, characterized by the internal formation of grapelike clusters, especially in the lungs.

   2. tuberculosis occurring in horses, characterized by grapelike clusters on the fetlocks.

5. grapeshot.

6. the grape, wine.

grape

/ ɡreɪp /

noun

1. the fruit of the grapevine, which has a purple or green skin and sweet flesh: eaten raw, dried to make raisins, currants, or sultanas, or used for making wine

2. any of various plants that bear grapelike fruit, such as the Oregon grape

3. See grapevine

4. an informal term for wine

5. See grapeshot

Other Word Forms

• grapelike adjective
• grapeless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of grape¹

1200–50; Middle English < Old French, variant of crape cluster of fruit or flowers, originally hook (for pruning vines) < Germanic; compare German Krapf hook and grapple ( def. ), grapnel

Word History and Origins

Origin of grape¹

C13: from Old French grape bunch of grapes, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German krāpfo; related to _cramp ², _grapple

Idioms and Phrases

see sour grapes.

Example Sentences

In a statement on Wednesday, Fox News said that the complaint is sour grapes from a network that’s failing to find an audience.

From Salon

I ordered my usual: fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, candied yams and a biscuit slathered in grape jelly butter.

From Salon

White Castle Vineyard grows 75% black grapes for red wine, which is surprising to many visitors.

From BBC

If you are buying a bottle of red, white or rosé then the specific year of the grape harvest is almost always written on the label.

From BBC

Nearby vineyard owners worried the burn would make their world-class grapes too smoky for discerning wine lovers.

From Los Angeles Times