The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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 (Zool.), 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 (Zool.), 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 (Zool.), 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 (Zool.), 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]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Small \Small\ (sm[add]l), a. [Compar. Smaller
(sm[add]l"[~e]r); superl. Smallest.] [OE. small, AS. smael;
akin to D. smal narrow, OS. & OHG. smal small, G. schmal
narrow, Dan. & Sw. smal, Goth. smals small, Icel. smali small
cattle, sheep, or goats; cf. Gr. mh^lon a sheep or goat.]
1. Having little size, compared with other things of the same
kind; little in quantity or degree; diminutive; not large
or extended in dimension; not great; not much;
inconsiderable; as, a small man; a small river.
[1913 Webster]
To compare
Great things with small. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
2. Being of slight consequence; feeble in influence or
importance; unimportant; trivial; insignificant; as, a
small fault; a small business.
[1913 Webster]
3. Envincing little worth or ability; not large-minded; --
sometimes, in reproach, paltry; mean.
[1913 Webster]
A true delineation of the smallest man is capable of
interesting the greatest man. --Carlyle.
[1913 Webster]
4. Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short;
as, after a small space. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
5. Weak; slender; fine; gentle; soft; not loud. "A still,
small voice." --1 Kings xix. 12.
[1913 Webster]
Great and small,of all ranks or degrees; -- used especially
of persons. "His quests, great and small." --Chaucer.
Small arms, muskets, rifles, pistols, etc., in distinction
from cannon.
Small beer. See under Beer.
Small coal.
(a) Little coals of wood formerly used to light fires.
--Gay.
(b) Coal about the size of a hazelnut, separated from the
coarser parts by screening.
Small craft (Naut.), a vessel, or vessels in general, of a
small size.
Small fruits. See under Fruit.
Small hand, a certain size of paper. See under Paper.
Small hours. See under Hour.
Small letter. (Print.), a lower-case letter. See
Lower-case, and Capital letter, under Capital, a.
Small piece, a Scotch coin worth about 21/4d. sterling, or
about 41/2cents.
Small register. See the Note under 1st Register, 7.
Small stuff (Naut.), spun yarn, marline, and the smallest
kinds of rope. --R. H. Dana, Jr.
Small talk, light or trifling conversation; chitchat.
Small wares (Com.), various small textile articles, as
tapes, braid, tringe, and the like. --M`Culloch.
[1913 Webster]