Breadfruit

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbɹɛdfɹuːt/

Definitions

1. A large, starchy tropical fruit that resembles a melon in shape and is utilized in various cuisines for its potato-like texture when cooked
2. This fruit, usually found in clusters on trees, serves as a significant food source in many tropical areas and is favored for its nutritional value
3. A tropical fruit that is large and starchy, often used in cooking for its versatile texture similar to potatoes and growth in clusters on tall trees

Etymology: Breadfruit is a calque, a word-for-word translation, of the scientific name Artocarpus. That genus name was built from Greek roots: "ártos" meaning bread and "karpós" meaning fruit. So the English word is the Greek name rendered into its two parts, and the taxonomic term itself was coined from classical Greek elements rather than taken from any ancient Greek speaker's vocabulary. The English compound follows the same logic. "Bread" and "fruit" are both native English words, so the tree's name reads as a plain description of its use: its fruit, when cooked, is starchy and eaten in place of bread. The word is therefore a transparent compound, and its meaning lies in the two halves combined.

Synonyms: fruit tree, tropical fruit