fruit
fruit / froōt/ • n. 1. the sweet and fleshy product of a tree or other plant that contains seed and can be eaten as food: tropical fruits such as mangoes and papaya | eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. ∎ Bot. the seed-bearing structure of a plant, e.g., an acorn. ∎ the result or reward of work or activity: the pupils began to appreciate the fruits of their labors the journal was the first fruit of the creative partnership. ∎ archaic or poetic/lit. natural produce that can be used for food: we give thanks for the fruits of the earth. ∎ archaic offspring: she couldn't bear not to see the fruit of her womb.2. inf., offens. a male homosexual.• v. [intr.] (of a tree or other plant) produce fruit, typically at a specified time: the trees fruit very early | [as n.] (fruiting) cover strawberries with cloches to encourage early fruiting. PHRASES: bear fruit have good results: their efforts finally bore fruit in 1993 in a surprise decision by the Supreme Court.in fruit (of a tree or plant) at the stage of producing fruit.