currant

[ kur-uhnt, kuhr- ]

noun

1. a small seedless raisin, of the cultivar Black Corinth, produced chiefly in Greece, and used in cooking and confectionery.
2. the small, edible, acidic, round fruit of certain wild or cultivated shrubs of the genus Ribes.
3. any of various fruit-bearing shrubs of the genus Ribes, including black currant and gooseberry.
4. any of various fruits or shrubs resembling those of the genus Ribes.

currant

/ ˈkʌrənt /

noun

1. a small dried seedless grape of the Mediterranean region, used in cooking
2. any of several mainly N temperate shrubs of the genus Ribes, esp R. rubrum (redcurrant) and R. nigrum (blackcurrant): family Grossulariaceae See also gooseberry
3. the small acid fruit of any of these plants

Word History and Origins

Origin of currant¹

First recorded in 1300–50; shortened from Middle English raysons of Coraunte “raisins of Corinth, ” the port in Greece from which they originally came

Word History and Origins

Origin of currant¹

C16: shortened from rayson of Corannte raisin of Corinth

Example Sentences

Accompany with curried couscous, mint, pine nuts and currants.

From Salon

This red blend offers pipe tobacco and anise notes on the palate with shades of black currant.

From Seattle Times

A handful of dried currants balances the salty cheese, and fresh parsley helps bring it all to life.

From Seattle Times

She’s laid out brownies and lemon and currant loaves that she baked hours earlier.

From Los Angeles Times

A Pacific Northwest forest planted with Douglas fir, cedar, hemlock and larch underplanted with evergreen huckleberry, salal and ferns transitions to an open woodland of native dogwood trees, red twig dogwood and flowering red currant.

From Seattle Times