Grapefruit

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɡɹeɪpfɹuːt/

Definitions

1. A large, round citrus fruit with pink or yellow flesh and a tangy, slightly bitter taste
2. A citrus fruit that is sizable and round, typically having a yellow or pink interior that offers a tart and somewhat bitter flavor profile
3. This fruit is characterized by its large, round shape and its juicy, tangy, and slightly bitter pulp, which can be pink or yellow

Etymology: The most common explanation is that the fruit grows in clusters that resemble grapes, but that story is contested. The botanist Ciardi proposed a different route: the pomelo, a close relative, has the botanical name "Citrus grandis," meaning "great citrus," and a new variety may first have been called a "greatfruit." Through assimilation, the pronunciation shifted toward "grape-fruit," and the spelling followed the sound. The grape explanation is not just a guess, though. In 1895 the California State Secretary of Agriculture complained in an official report that growers were marketing the pomelo under the name "grape-fruit," calling it a misnomer. He explained that the name had been given to the fruit in Florida because it hangs on trees in clusters resembling grapes, but that it has no relation to grapes whatsoever. He urged growers to adopt the name pomelo instead, which he called popular and botanically correct.

Synonyms: citrus, fruit, pomelo, orange, lime