CURRANT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does currant mean? 

• CURRANT (noun)
  The noun CURRANT has 3 senses:

1. any of several tart red or black berries used primarily for jellies and jams

2. any of various deciduous shrubs of the genus Ribes bearing currants

3. small dried seedless raisin grown in the Mediterranean region and California; used in cooking

  Familiarity information: CURRANT used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CURRANT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any of several tart red or black berries used primarily for jellies and jams

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Hypernyms ("currant" is a kind of...):

berry (any of numerous small and pulpy edible fruits; used as desserts or in making jams and jellies and preserves)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "currant"):

gooseberry (currant-like berry used primarily in jams and jellies)

black currant (small black berries used in jams and jellies)

red currant (small red berries used primarily in jams and jellies)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Any of various deciduous shrubs of the genus Ribes bearing currants

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

currant; currant bush

Hypernyms ("currant" is a kind of...):

bush; shrub (a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "currant"):

garden current; red currant; Ribes rubrum (cultivated European current bearing small edible red berries)

black currant; European black currant; Ribes nigrum (widely cultivated current bearing edible black aromatic berries)

Ribes sativum; white currant (garden currant bearing small white berries)

Ribes sanguineum; winter currant (a flowering shrub)

Holonyms ("currant" is a member of...):

genus Ribes; Ribes (a flowering shrub bearing currants or gooseberries; native to northern hemisphere)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Small dried seedless raisin grown in the Mediterranean region and California; used in cooking

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Hypernyms ("currant" is a kind of...):

raisin (dried grape)

 Context examples 

The pudding at that shop was made of currants, and was rather a special pudding, but was dear, twopennyworth not being larger than a pennyworth of more ordinary pudding.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Home came four dozen delightful little pots, half a barrel of sugar, and a small boy to pick the currants for her.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Morning decidedly the best time—never tired—every sort good—hautboy infinitely superior—no comparison—the others hardly eatable—hautboys very scarce—Chili preferred—white wood finest flavour of all—price of strawberries in London—abundance about Bristol—Maple Grove—cultivation—beds when to be renewed—gardeners thinking exactly different—no general rule—gardeners never to be put out of their way—delicious fruit—only too rich to be eaten much of—inferior to cherries—currants more refreshing—only objection to gathering strawberries the stooping—glaring sun—tired to death—could bear it no longer—must go and sit in the shade.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

“Perhaps you'd like to spend a couple of shillings or so, in a bottle of currant wine by and by, up in the bedroom?” said Steerforth.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Fired with a housewifely wish to see her storeroom stocked with homemade preserves, she undertook to put up her own currant jelly.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I begged him to do me the favour of presiding; and my request being seconded by the other boys who were in that room, he acceded to it, and sat upon my pillow, handing round the viands—with perfect fairness, I must say—and dispensing the currant wine in a little glass without a foot, which was his own property.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

John was requested to order home a dozen or so of little pots and an extra quantity of sugar, for their own currants were ripe and were to be attended to at once.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Lotty, with Teutonic phlegm, was calmly eating bread and currant wine, for the jelly was still in a hopelessly liquid state, while Mrs. Brooke, with her apron over her head, sat sobbing dismally.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)