WordGarden.ionectarine
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /nˈɛktɑːrˌiːn/
US
Meanings
Noun
the sweet smooth-skinned fruit of a nectarine tree
the tree that produces nectarines
Beyond the definition
Imagine a peach, but with the fuzzy skin replaced by a smooth, shiny surface. That's the basic idea. This fruit is usually sweet, juicy, and a little firm, with a large pit in the middle. It is very closely related to the peach and is often eaten fresh, but you can also find it in pies, jams, and other summer dishes. Like plums and cherries, it is a stone fruit.
The nectarine is a stone fruit that is very closely related to the peach. The main difference is its smooth skin. Unlike a peach, which has a fuzzy outer layer, this fruit has a clean, glossy surface. Inside, it has juicy flesh and a single hard pit in the center.
It can be yellow or white inside, and its skin often shows shades of red, yellow, and orange. The taste is similar to a peach, usually sweet with a little tartness. Some are soft and very juicy, while others are firmer. People often eat them fresh, but they are also common in fruit salads, desserts, jams, and baked dishes.
In everyday English, the word almost always refers to the fruit itself rather than to a broad metaphor or special expression. You will usually see it in conversations about food, farming, grocery shopping, or summer produce. If you know what a peach is, the easiest way to understand it is to think of a peach with smooth skin.
Examples
- 1
Packed lunch
She packed a nectarine in her lunch.
- 2
Ripening
These nectarines are still hard, so leave them on the counter for a day.
- 3
Breakfast
I sliced a ripe nectarine over my yogurt.
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- nectarinenoun
Forms
- nectarinespluralnoun