plum
1 Americannoun
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the drupaceous fruit of any of several trees belonging to the genus Prunus, of the rose family, having an oblong stone.
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the tree itself.
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any of various other trees bearing a plumlike fruit.
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the fruit itself.
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a sugarplum.
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a raisin, as in a cake or pudding.
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a deep purple varying from bluish to reddish.
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Informal. an excellent or desirable thing, as a fine position.
The choicest plums went to his old cronies.
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Informal. an unanticipated large increase in money or property, as an unexpected legacy; a windfall.
The company offered bonuses and other plums.
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Also called displacer. a large stone used in massive concrete construction.
adjective
noun
noun
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a small rosaceous tree, Prunus domestica, with white flowers and an edible oval fruit that is purple, yellow, or green and contains an oval stone See also greengage damson
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the fruit of this tree
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a raisin, as used in a cake or pudding
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a dark reddish-purple colour
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( as adjective )
a plum carpet
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informal
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something of a superior or desirable kind, such as a financial bonus
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( as modifier )
a plum job
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adjective
Other Word Forms
- plumlike adjective
Etymology
Origin of plum
before 900; Middle English; Old English plūme (cognate with German Pflaume ) ≪ Greek proûmnon plum, proúmnē plum tree; prune 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He addressed her as “darling,” and later, “sweet pet,” and “sugar plum”; he thought her “loveable.”
From Literature
Flament had been handed a plum job at the French Embassy.
From BBC
As the son of a revolutionary elder, Xi began his career in a plum posting at the heart of the defense establishment.
It contained all of Sadako’s favorite foods—an egg roll, chicken and rice, pickled plums, and bean cakes.
From Literature
They taste like plum and lemon peel and salt.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
