grape
grape
Pronunciation
grape: /ɡreɪp/
/ɡ/ - voiced velar stop
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant
/eɪ/ - diphthong (as in "day")
/p/ - voiceless bilabial stop
Word Form Variations
Singular: grape
Plural: grapes
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A small, round or oval-shaped fruit, typically green, purple, or reddish in color, that grows in clusters on a woody vine. Grapes are often eaten fresh, used to make wine, or dried to produce raisins.
Synonyms: berry (in a general sense for small fruits), fruit
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms as it refers to a specific fruit)
Verb
Definition 1: (Slang, often used passively) To be subjected to intense and prolonged questioning or criticism, often in a relentless or aggressive manner.
Synonyms: grill, interrogate, cross-examine, badger, harangue
Antonyms: praise, commend, compliment, approve, endorse
Examples of Use
Books:
"He plucked a single grape from the vine, its skin taut and glistening in the morning sun, and popped it into his mouth, savoring the burst of sweetness." (From a fictional novel focusing on viticulture)
"The historical record indicates that the cultivation of the grape for winemaking dates back thousands of years to ancient Mesopotamia." (From a non-fiction book on the history of wine)
Newspapers:
"Local farmers are reporting an excellent grape harvest this year, promising a bumper crop for wineries across the region." (Headline in a local newspaper, The Valley Sentinel)
"Analysts are closely watching the market for table grapes as tariffs could impact import prices." (Business section of The Wall Street Journal)
Online Publications:
"This recipe for roasted chicken with grapes and rosemary is the perfect balance of savory and sweet." (Food blog post on Serious Eats)
"Scientists are studying the antioxidant properties of purple grapes and their potential benefits for heart health." (Article on WebMD)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: (Character in a romantic comedy, while holding a bunch of grapes) "Darling, these grapes are simply divine! You must try one." (Dialogue from "A Vineyard Romance," released 2023)
Television Series: (From a cooking competition show) "Your challenge, chefs, is to create a dish featuring the humble grape as the star ingredient." ("MasterChef" episode, aired April 2024)
Music: "Sweet as a grape, smooth as wine, your love's a vintage, truly divine." (Lyrics from a contemporary pop song, "Vintage Love," by pop artist "Melody Lane," released 2022)
Video Game: (Item description in a fantasy role-playing game) "Healing Grape: Restores a small amount of health. A common fruit found in forest regions." ("Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim," Bethesda Softworks, 2011)
General Public Discourse:
"I always make sure to have a bag of frozen grapes in the freezer; they're such a refreshing snack on a hot day." (Informal conversation between friends at a picnic, heard June 2025)
"Did you hear about that new winery? They specialize in organic grapes." (Casual remark during a social gathering, heard May 2025)
10 Famous Quotes Using Grape
"A good grape does not come on a sour vine." (African Proverb)
"Where the grape has been, the wine remains." (Latin Proverb)
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman... Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." (John 15:1-2, King James Bible – metaphorical use related to the vine that produces grapes)
"Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad. Or knowing a grape is a berry, but not calling it a blueberry." (Common humorous saying, attribution uncertain)
"And the winner is... the grape! The grape is the king of fruits, for out of it comes wine." (Attributed to Pliny the Elder, Roman author)
"The first taste of a ripe grape on a hot summer day is a small piece of heaven." (Lesser-known quote, often found in culinary or lifestyle writings)
"Let's not make a mountain out of a molehill, or a bottle of wine out of a single grape." (Original quote emphasizing over-exaggeration)
"It was a sour grape for them when they realized their efforts were in vain." (Lesser-known quote, often used in a figurative sense of disappointment)
"You can't get good wine from bad grapes." (Common saying, emphasizing quality of input)
"The poet, by the way, has grapes in his garden that he won't share." (A slightly altered, metaphorical quote from "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde – originally "The poet, by the way, is a man of no importance.")
Etymology
The word "grape" has a really interesting journey!
Before the word "grape" came along, in Old English (which was spoken before 1066 when the Normans invaded England), the fruit was called "winberige," which literally means "wine berry." It's a pretty straightforward and descriptive name!
However, after the Norman Conquest, a lot of French words entered the English language. This is where "grape" comes in. The word "grape" likely comes from an Old French word, which was either "grape" or "grappe."
Now, here's the cool part about where the French word got its meaning: it probably came from a Proto-Germanic word like "krappen" which meant "to hook."
Why "hook"? Well, think about how grapes grow in bunches, and how people would have harvested them using a hook-like tool to pull them from the vine. The idea was that the "grape" was something that was "hooked" or grasped. This connection to "hook" also links "grape" to other words like "grapple" (to struggle to hold or deal with something) and "grapnel" (a small anchor with hooks).
So, the first known use of "grape" in English appears in the Middle English period, around the late 1200s. Its meaning then was essentially what it is today: "a berry of the vine," often used to refer to a bunch of them.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Grape
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "grape":
Sour grapes: This refers to an attitude where someone pretends to dislike something they can't have, or dismisses something as inferior because they were unable to get it (from Aesop's Fable, "The Fox and the Grapes").
Grapevine: Used in the phrase "hear something through the grapevine," meaning to hear news or gossip unofficially, usually from person to person.
Grape shot: A type of anti-personnel artillery ammunition consisting of a number of small metal balls, historically used to scatter like grapes when fired.
Sweet as a grape: An original phrase used to describe something very pleasant or agreeable, especially in taste.
A grape's chance in a fruit press: An original idiom meaning to have no chance at all, implying inevitable crushing.
To put the grapes in the basket: An original phrase meaning to complete the necessary steps to achieve a goal.
The grape of wrath: (Metaphorical, from John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath) Symbolizes intense anger, suffering, and the accumulation of grievances that can lead to revolt or despair.
Like a ripe grape ready to burst: An original phrase describing something or someone on the verge of breakdown or explosion due to pressure.
Pluck the grape: An original phrase meaning to seize an opportunity or take advantage of a situation.
A grape among berries: An original phrase highlighting something unique or distinct within a common group, as grapes are technically berries but often thought of separately.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of grape from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
