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Fruit Fruit, n. [OE. fruit, frut, F. fruit, from L. fructus enjoyment, product, fruit, from frui, p. p. fructus, to enjoy; akin to E. brook, v. t. See {Brook}, v. t., and cf. {Fructify}, {Frugal}.] 1. Whatever is produced for the nourishment or enjoyment of man or animals by the processes of vegetable growth, as corn, grass, cotton, flax, etc.; -- commonly used in the plural. [1913 Webster]

Six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof. --Ex. xxiii. 10. [1913 Webster]

2. (Hort.) The pulpy, edible seed vessels of certain plants, especially those grown on branches above ground, as apples, oranges, grapes, melons, berries, etc. See 3. [1913 Webster]

3. (Bot.) The ripened ovary of a flowering plant, with its contents and whatever parts are consolidated with it. [1913 Webster]

Note: Fruits are classified as fleshy, drupaceous, and dry. {Fleshy fruits} include berries, gourds, and melons, orangelike fruits and pomes; {drupaceous fruits} are stony within and fleshy without, as peaches, plums, and cherries; and {dry fruits} are further divided into {achenes}, {follicles}, {legumes}, {capsules}, {nuts}, and several other kinds. [1913 Webster]

4. (Bot.) The spore cases or conceptacles of flowerless plants, as of ferns, mosses, algae, etc., with the spores contained in them. [1913 Webster]

6. The produce of animals; offspring; young; as, the fruit of the womb, of the loins, of the body. [1913 Webster]

King Edward's fruit, true heir to the English crown. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

6. That which is produced; the effect or consequence of any action; advantageous or desirable product or result; disadvantageous or evil consequence or effect; as, the fruits of labor, of self-denial, of intemperance. [1913 Webster]

The fruit of rashness. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

What I obtained was the fruit of no bargain. --Burke. [1913 Webster]

They shall eat the fruit of their doings. --Is. iii 10. [1913 Webster]

The fruits of this education became visible. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

Note: Fruit is frequently used adjectively, signifying of, for, or pertaining to a fruit or fruits; as, fruit bud; fruit frame; fruit jar; fruit knife; fruit loft; fruit show; fruit stall; fruit tree; etc. [1913 Webster]

{Fruit bat} (Zo["o]l.), one of the Frugivora; -- called also {fruit-eating bat}.

{Fruit bud} (Bot.), a bud that produces fruit; -- in most oplants the same as the power bud.

{Fruit dot} (Bot.), a collection of fruit cases, as in ferns. See {Sorus}.

{Fruit fly} (Zo["o]l.), a small dipterous insect of the genus {Drosophila}, which lives in fruit, in the larval state. There are seveal species, some of which are very damaging to fruit crops. One species, {Drosophila melanogaster}, has been intensively studied as a model species for genetic reserach.

{Fruit jar}, a jar for holding preserved fruit, usually made of glass or earthenware.

{Fruit pigeon} (Zo["o]l.), one of numerous species of pigeons of the family {Carpophagid[ae]}, inhabiting India, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. They feed largely upon fruit. and are noted for their beautiful colors.

{Fruit sugar} (Chem.), a kind of sugar occurring, naturally formed, in many ripe fruits, and in honey; levulose. The name is also, though rarely, applied to {invert sugar}, or to the natural mixture or dextrose and levulose resembling it, and found in fruits and honey.

{Fruit tree} (Hort.), a tree cultivated for its edible fruit.

{Fruit worm} (Zo["o]l.), one of numerous species of insect larv[ae]: which live in the interior of fruit. They are mostly small species of Lepidoptera and Diptera.

{Small fruits} (Hort.), currants, raspberries, strawberries, etc. [1913 Webster]