Definition of "plum"

The fruit and its tree.

1. An edible, fleshy stone fruit of Prunus domestica (European plum), often of a dark red or purple colour.  examples

2. A stone-fruit tree which bears this fruit, Prunus domestica.  examples

3. The edible, fleshy stone fruit of several species resembling the plum, or the tree from which they grow.

   1. Prunus sect. Prunus

      1. Prunus cerasifera (cherry plum or myrobalan)  examples

      2. Prunus salicina (Chinese plum or Japanese plum)  examples

      3. Prunus spinosa (sloe)  examples

      4. Prunus ursina (bear's plum)  examples

   2. Prunus sect. Prunocerasus North American plums

      1. Prunus americana (American plum)  examples

      2. Prunus angustifolia (Chickasaw plum or sand plum)  examples

      3. Prunus hortulana (hortulan plum)  examples

      4. Prunus nigra (Canadian plum or black plum)  examples

      5. Prunus rivularis (creek plum or hog plum)  examples

      6. Prunus subcordata (Klamath plum or Oregon plum)  examples

   3. Prunus sect. Armeniaca (better known as apricots)

      1. 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.  examples

4. (now rare) A dried grape or raisin, as used in a pudding or cake.  quotations

   Quotations

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

     1870, Louisa May Alcott, An Old-Fashioned Girl

   • Little Jack Horner sat in a corner, eating a Christmas pie; he put in his thumb, and he took out a plum, and said, “What a good boy am I!”

     1877, Mother Gooose’s Nursery Rhymes

Extended senses.

1. (now rare, archaic) One hundred thousand pounds; (generally) a fortune.  quotations

   Quotations

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

     1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […]

2. A desirable or choice thing of its kind; a prize selection; a choice appointment, assignment etc.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • Such chances as this do not fall to a man's lot twice; but Edmond Werdet relates a story very similar indeed, and where also the "plums" fell into the lap of a London dealer.

     1880, William Blades, The Enemies of Books, page 52

3. A dark bluish-red color/colour, the colour of some plums.  examples

4. (slang, usually in the plural) A testicle.

5. (derogatory, chiefly UK) A fool, an idiot.  examples

(comparable) Of a dark bluish-red colour.  examples

(not comparable) Choice; especially lavish or preferred.  quotations  examples

Plumb  examples

Completely; utterly.  examples

(mining) To plumb.  examples