Deseeds

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Takes the seeds out of a fruit or vegetable so that only the flesh or pulp remains
2. Extracts the pips or kernels from produce before it is cooked or eaten
3. Removes the stones and seeds from something such as a pepper, melon or cucumber

Etymology: "Deseeds" is the third-person singular form of "deseed," a verb meaning to take the seeds out of a fruit or vegetable so that only the flesh or pulp is left. It is built from the prefix "de-," which here means "remove from" or "take away from," attached to "seed," the familiar word for the part of a plant that grows into a new plant. The pattern is a simple one. English has long combined "de-" with nouns to make verbs for removing something: "debone" takes out bones, "defrost" removes frost, and "deseed" follows the same logic. The formation is transparent enough that a cook could coin it on the spot, which is largely what makes it a practical kitchen term rather than a word with a dramatic past.

Synonyms: pits, stones

Antonyms: seeds