raspberry

IPA/ˈrɑːzbəri/
KK[rˈæzbˌɛri]IPA/ˈræzberi/

raspberry — noun

  • raspberrysingular
  • raspberriesplural

1. a small, soft, round red fruit made up of many tiny sections, which grows on a b

1.nounA2
Definition

a small, soft, round red fruit made up of many tiny sections, which grows on a bush with thorny stems

Example

Darius picked fresh raspberries from the bush in his backyard yesterday.

countable: raspberries (plural)

Abigail added a handful of raspberries to her bowl of yogurt for breakfast.

collocation: handful of raspberries

Common collocations
  • fresh raspberries
  • raspberry bush
  • raspberry jam
  • raspberry cane
  • pick raspberries
  • handful of raspberries
  • basket of raspberries
Synonyms
  • berry

    a general term; all raspberries are berries, but most berries are not raspberries

  • bramble

    refers to the thorny bush itself rather than the fruit; less common in everyday speech

Grammar Patterns

a raspberry

raspberries (plural)

raspberry + noun (raspberry bush / raspberry jam)

Usage Note

Raspberries are aggregate fruits — each raspberry is made of many tiny juice-filled parts called drupelets. The bush that produces them is also called a 'raspberry cane' or 'raspberry bush.'

Common Mistakes

I ate a raspberry this morning' (meaning jam or flavor).
I ate a raspberry this morning' (a single fruit) OR 'I had raspberry jam this morning
specify whether you mean the fruit or the flavor.
Raspberries is my favorite fruit.
Raspberries are my favorite fruit.
raspberries is plural, so use 'are'.

2. a rude noise made by placing the tip of the tongue just past the lips and pushin

2.nounB1
Definition

a rude noise made by placing the tip of the tongue just past the lips and pushing air out fast, done to show dislike, disrespect, or playful teasing

Example

The toddler blew a raspberry at his older sister and then ran off giggling.

collocation: blow a raspberry

When the singer forgot the words, someone in the crowd made a loud raspberry sound.

Common collocations
  • blow a raspberry
  • blow raspberries
  • make a raspberry sound
Synonyms
  • Bronx cheer

    American English term for the same sound; slightly more specific to a loud, drawn-out version used in audience disapproval

  • rasp

    the sound-meaning part of the word; very rare as a standalone term for this noise

Antonyms
  • applause

    clapping to show approval, the opposite of showing disrespect through a raspberry sound

Grammar Patterns

blow a raspberry

make a raspberry sound

Usage Note

The most common verb used with this sense is 'blow' — 'to blow a raspberry.' The sound is generally considered childish or rude, not suitable for formal situations. In British English, it is sometimes called a 'Bronx cheer.'

Common Mistakes

He made a raspberry at the speaker.
He blew a raspberry at the speaker.
use the verb 'blow,' not 'make.'
He raspberried the politician' (treating it as a verb).
He blew a raspberry at the politician.
'raspberry' is a noun, not a verb in standard English.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words are names of small, soft berries, but each has distinct features you can see and taste. 'Raspberry' has a hollow center when picked and is made of many tiny round sections with a slightly tart, floral sweetness. 'Blackberry' looks similar but is darker — almost black — and has a solid core that stays inside when pulled off the bush. 'Strawberry' is the only one with seeds on the outside and a cone-like shape; it is sweeter and very juicy. 'Blueberry' is smooth-skinned, round, and grows in small clusters on low bushes, with a milder taste. For example: 'I picked raspberries for a tart and blackberries for a crumble.' 'Strawberries and cream is a classic summer dessert.' 'Blueberries are excellent in pancakes.'

blackberry ↗strawberry ↗blueberry ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • blow a raspberry

Prepositions

Etymology

Old FrenchEnglishEnglish

The word 'raspberry' appeared in English around the 1530s. It was formed by combining the earlier word 'raspis' (a name for the fruit, possibly from Old French 'raspe' meaning 'rough', referring to the bumpy surface of the berry) with 'berry'. The rude-sound meaning came much later — in the 1890s — from British rhyming slang, where 'raspberry tart' rhymed with 'fart', and the noisy, dismissive gesture took on the shortened name 'raspberry'.