grape - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
grape Word Meanings
- The fruit of the grapevine, often eaten fresh or used to make wine, juice, or raisins.
- A bunch or cluster of grapes on a vine.
- Figurative uses include sour grapes for envy and the grapes of wrath as a literary allusion.
grape Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
grape Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ɡreɪp/
US
/ɡreɪp/
grape Word Etymology
Root decomposition: grap- denotes a cluster or bundle and -e ending nominalizes it, with no prefix. Historical origin: from Old French grappe 'a bunch, cluster', from Latin grappa/grappus meaning 'a bunch', borrowed into English in the medieval period. Memory image: picture a sunlit vineyard where a tightly packed bunch of grapes forms the letters of the word grape, and you pluck one to taste, fixing the memory.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputReal Context
Grape is the fruit of the grapevine (Vitis vinifera), commonly eaten fresh, dried as raisins, or processed into juice or wine. A single fruit is a grape, while a group growing on a vine is called grapes when referred to collectively. In everyday English, grapes are a countable noun and take a plural form when you mean more than one piece. The word also appears in a few idioms: sour grapes (envy) and The Grapes of Wrath (a famous literary title). Etymology traces back to Old French grappe, from Latin grappa/grappus meaning a bunch, borrowed into English in the medieval period. Memory cue: imagine a sunlit vineyard where a tight cluster spells out the word grape.
Usage Reminders
- Pay attention to plural forms when talking about more than one grape. | Use 'a bunch of grapes' for a small cluster. | 'Grapes' is the standard plural; avoid 'grape's' with an apostrophe. | Distinguish grape from raisin (dried grape) in everyday talk. | Remember the idioms sour grapes and The Grapes of Wrath as fixed phrases.
Common Misconceptions
- Grape and grapes are never used to refer to a single grape (use a grape).
- Raisin is a dried grape, not a different fruit.
- Grapes is not automatically tied to wine; grapes are eaten fresh too.
- Grapefruit is a different fruit; do not confuse with grape.
- The Grapes of Wrath is a title, not a description of envy.
Thinking Differences
For English learners, grapes are a concrete, countable noun with clear plural rules and well-known idioms; many learners trip over plurals and figurative uses.
Learning Tips
- Use pictures to memorize grape clusters.
- Practice with food photos and wine labels.
- Memorize collocations like bunch of grapes and grape juice.
- Learn the idioms in context with sample sentences.
- Compare grape with raisin to remember drying process.
- Play word games linking grapes to vineyard vocabulary.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'grape'?
A.A place
B.A color
C.A fruit
D.An animal
Step 2: Usage
In which sentence is the word 'grape' used correctly?
A.He painted the wall grape.
B.The sky turned grape at dusk.
C.She bought a bunch of grapes at the store.
D.The grape jumped over the moon.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is a synonym of 'grape'?
A.Apple
B.Banana
C.Cherry
D.Wine
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'grape'?
A.Juice
B.Pear
C.Raisin
D.Vineyard
Step 5: Mastery
In what real-life context would you find 'grapes'?
A.At a fashion show
B.In a vineyard
C.In a museum
D.At a concert
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