Uva

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of fruit characterized by small, round, smooth-skinned berries that grow in clusters on woody vines; a plant cultivated worldwide for its edible fruit and use in juice, wine, or fresh consumption; a term used to describe the botanical genus encompassing these berry-producing plants
2. A cluster-grown fruit species known for its sweet or tart flavor with a smooth outer layer; a vine-bearing plant often harvested for eating fresh, drying into raisins, or fermenting into wine; a botanical classification referring to these perennial plants bearing specific fruit types
3. A berry-like fruit commonly found in bunches with a juicy interior and thin skin; a cultivated vine valued for fresh eating, juice, or wine production; a botanical group including species that produce such fleshy fruit clusters

Etymology: In Latin, "ūva" meant a bunch of grapes, and the word was borrowed into English directly from that language. Its literal sense was the whole cluster rather than a single berry, which is why the English word now covers the fruit, the vine, and the plant family. The same Latin root sits behind two anatomical terms. "Uvula," the small fleshy tip hanging at the back of the throat, is a diminutive of "uva," because its shape resembles a single grape. "Uvea," the pigmented middle layer of the eye, comes from a Latin word meaning grape-like, for its dark, berry-like colour.

Synonyms: grape, vine fruit