Cranberry
ˈkrænˌbɛri
Definitions
2 meaningsA small, sour, red berry that grows on low-growing vines.
ˈkrænˌbɛri
A small, sour, red berry.
We bought a bag of fresh cranberries at the farmers market.
💡 Simply: Cranberries are like tiny, tart red balls you find on a vine. They are famous for being used in sauces, especially with turkey at Thanksgiving. Imagine biting into something tangy and a little bit sweet – that's a cranberry!
👶 For kids: A red, sour berry that grows on a little plant. We often use it to make juice or sauce!
More Examples
Cranberry sauce is a traditional accompaniment to Thanksgiving dinner.
The juice from the cranberry stains easily.
How It's Used
"Cranberries are often used in sauces, jams, and juice."
"The cranberry plant thrives in acidic soil."
Relating to or made from cranberries.
ˈkrænˌbɛri
Of or relating to the cranberry.
She enjoyed the cranberry muffin for breakfast.
💡 Simply: If something has to do with cranberries, we can call it cranberry. Like, a cranberry juice is juice made from cranberries!
👶 For kids: Something about cranberries!
More Examples
I prefer cranberry juice to orange juice.
How It's Used
"The cranberry flavor was prominent in the dessert."
Idioms & expressions
cranberry sauce
A sauce made from cranberries, often served with poultry.
"We always have cranberry sauce with Thanksgiving dinner."
cranberry bog
A wetland where cranberries are grown.
"The farmers showed us the cranberry bog during the tour."
From Middle English craneberie, from crane + berry, referring to the flowers' resemblance to the head and neck of a crane.
Historically, cranberries were used by Native Americans for food, medicine, and dye.
Memory tip
Think of a crane's head (cran) on a berry, as the flower resembles it.
Word Origin
"crane + berry (referring to flower shape)"