mulberry

[ muhl-ber-ee, -buh-ree ]

noun

, plural mul·ber·ries.

1. the edible, berrylike collective fruit of any tree of the genus Morus.
2. a tree of this genus, as M. rubra red mulberry, or American mulberry bearing dark-purple fruit, M. nigra black mulberry bearing dark-colored fruit, or M. alba white mulberry bearing nearly white fruit and having leaves used as food for silkworms.

mulberry

/ ˈmʌlbərɪ; -brɪ /

noun

1. any moraceous tree of the temperate genus Morus, having edible blackberry-like fruit, such as M. alba ( white mulberry ), the leaves of which are used to feed silkworms
2. the fruit of any of these trees
3. any of several similar or related trees, such as the paper mulberry and Indian mulberry
4. 1. a dark purple colour
   2. ( as adjective )

      a mulberry dress

Word History and Origins

Origin of mulberry¹

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English mulberie, dissimilated variant of murberie, Old English mōrberie, equivalent to mōr- (from Latin mōrum “mulberry”) + berie; berry

Word History and Origins

Origin of mulberry¹

C14: from Latin mōrum, from Greek moron; related to Old English mōrberie; compare Dutch moerbezie, Old High German mūrberi

Example Sentences

Earlier this year, three third-graders said they liked the sunflowers and eating fruit, particularly mulberries.

From Los Angeles Times

It included 16 ingredients, Indian mulberry, golden eye-grass, the deciduous perennial Asian lizard’s tail and the carrot-like plant Szechuan Lovage among them.

From Los Angeles Times

“And I’m getting smiles in response” — his eucalyptus, mulberries and bird of paradise appreciating him in the afterlife.

From Los Angeles Times

The raki was a special liquor they made from fermented fruits like plums or mulberries with spicy additives like juniper or anise, that smelled, to me, like licorice and turpentine.

From Literature

In the next few days he discovered additional sources of nourishment: groundnuts, mulberries, wild mustard, wild onions, new kinds of mushrooms, spearmint, peppermint, and milkweed.

From Literature

Related Words

• color
• lavender
• lilac
• mauve
• periwinkle
• plum
• violet