Plum

/plʌm/ adj, adv, name, noun, verb, slang

adj, adv, name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·Middle school level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: The fruit and its tree.; An edible, fleshy stone fruit of Prunus domestica (European plum), often of a dark red or purple colour.
  • Grammar: plum is listed as adj, adv, name, noun, verb, slang.
  • Nearest alternatives: plum tree, accrued dividends, accumulated dividends, advantageous.
  • Useful contrasts: burden, colorless, drawback.
  • Usage evidence: We visited Mito Park, which is famous for its plum blossoms.

How to use "plum"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "plum" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "plum" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "plum" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "plum" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "plum" is acting as adj, adv, name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "plum tree" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "plum", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The fruit and its tree.; An edible, fleshy stone fruit of Prunus domestica (European plum), often of a dark red or purple colour.
  2. 2
    a highly desirable position or assignment wordnet
  3. 3
    The fruit and its tree.; A stone-fruit tree which bears this fruit, Prunus domestica.
  4. 4
    any of numerous varieties of small to medium-sized round or oval fruit having a smooth skin and a single pit wordnet
  5. 5
    The fruit and its tree.; The edible, fleshy stone fruit of several species resembling the plum, or the tree from which they grow.; Prunus sect. Prunus; Prunus cerasifera (cherry plum or myrobalan)
Show 18 more definitions
  1. 6
    any of several trees producing edible oval fruit having a smooth skin and a single hard stone wordnet
  2. 7
    The fruit and its tree.; The edible, fleshy stone fruit of several species resembling the plum, or the tree from which they grow.; Prunus sect. Prunus; Prunus salicina (Chinese plum or Japanese plum)
  3. 8
    The fruit and its tree.; The edible, fleshy stone fruit of several species resembling the plum, or the tree from which they grow.; Prunus sect. Prunus; Prunus spinosa (sloe)
  4. 9
    The fruit and its tree.; The edible, fleshy stone fruit of several species resembling the plum, or the tree from which they grow.; Prunus sect. Prunus; Prunus ursina (bear's plum)
  5. 10
    The fruit and its tree.; The edible, fleshy stone fruit of several species resembling the plum, or the tree from which they grow.; Prunus sect. Prunocerasus North American plums; Prunus americana (American plum)
  6. 11
    The fruit and its tree.; The edible, fleshy stone fruit of several species resembling the plum, or the tree from which they grow.; Prunus sect. Prunocerasus North American plums; Prunus angustifolia (Chickasaw plum or sand plum)
  7. 12
    The fruit and its tree.; The edible, fleshy stone fruit of several species resembling the plum, or the tree from which they grow.; Prunus sect. Prunocerasus North American plums; Prunus hortulana (hortulan plum)
  8. 13
    The fruit and its tree.; The edible, fleshy stone fruit of several species resembling the plum, or the tree from which they grow.; Prunus sect. Prunocerasus North American plums; Prunus nigra (Canadian plum or black plum)
  9. 14
    The fruit and its tree.; The edible, fleshy stone fruit of several species resembling the plum, or the tree from which they grow.; Prunus sect. Prunocerasus North American plums; Prunus rivularis (creek plum or hog plum)
  10. 15
    The fruit and its tree.; The edible, fleshy stone fruit of several species resembling the plum, or the tree from which they grow.; Prunus sect. Prunocerasus North American plums; Prunus subcordata (Klamath plum or Oregon plum)
  11. 16
    The fruit and its tree.; The edible, fleshy stone fruit of several species resembling the plum, or the tree from which they grow.; Prunus sect. Armeniaca (better known as apricots)
  12. 17
    The fruit and its tree.; The edible, fleshy stone fruit of several species resembling the plum, or the tree from which they grow.; Prunus sect. Armeniaca (better known as apricots); Prunus mume, an Asian fruit more closely related to the apricot than the plum, usually consumed pickled, dried, or as a juice or wine; ume.
  13. 18
    The fruit and its tree.; A dried grape or raisin, as used in a pudding or cake. archaic

    "“Bright boy! here’s a plum for you,” and Polly threw a plump raisin into his mouth."

  14. 19
    Extended senses.; One hundred thousand pounds; (generally) a fortune. archaic

    "He […] acquired a plentiful fortune, tho', to his infinite regret, he died before it amounted to a Plum […]."

  15. 20
    Extended senses.; A desirable or choice thing of its kind; a prize selection; a choice appointment, assignment etc.

    "The mayor rewarded his cronies with cushy plums, requiring little work for handsome pay."

  16. 21
    Extended senses.; A dark bluish-red color/colour, the colour of some plums.
  17. 22
    Extended senses.; A testicle. plural-normally, slang, vulgar
  18. 23
    Extended senses.; A fool, an idiot. UK, derogatory
Verb
  1. 1
    To plumb.
Adjective
  1. 1
    Of a dark bluish-red colour. comparable
  2. 2
    Plumb
  3. 3
    Choice; especially lavish or preferred. not-comparable

    "She landed a plum position as an executive for the firm."

Adverb
  1. 1
    Completely; utterly. not-comparable

    "You're going to think I'm plum crazy for this, but I want to adopt all seven kittens."

Adverb
  1. 1
    completely; used as intensifiers wordnet
  2. 2
    exactly wordnet
Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname. countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    A place name:; A borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, named after Plum Creek (Allegheny River tributary). countable, uncountable
  3. 3
    A place name:; A township in Venango County, Pennsylvania. countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    A place name:; An unincorporated community in Fayette County, Texas, United States. countable, uncountable
  5. 5
    A place name:; A village in Le Mont-Dore commune, New Caledonia. countable, uncountable

Synonyms

All synonyms
plum treeaccrued dividendsaccumulated dividendsadvantageousambitionamethyst

Example

"We visited Mito Park, which is famous for its plum blossoms."

Common questions

What does "plum" mean?

The fruit and its tree.; An edible, fleshy stone fruit of Prunus domestica (European plum), often of a dark red or purple colour.

What is a synonym for "plum"?

Common synonyms include: plum tree, accrued dividends, accumulated dividends, advantageous, ambition, amethyst.

How do you use "plum" in a sentence?

We visited Mito Park, which is famous for its plum blossoms.

How do you pronounce "plum"?

Pronounced /plʌm/.

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English plomme, ploume, from Old English plūme, from Proto-West Germanic *plūmā, borrowed from Latin prūnum. Doublet of prune.

Etymology 2

Phonetically based spelling of plumb.

More for "plum"

Synonyms

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