clingstone

noun

cling·​stone ˈkliŋ-ˌstōn How to pronounce clingstone (audio)
: any of various stone fruits (such as some peaches or plums) with flesh that adheres strongly to the pit

Examples of clingstone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web However, as their name suggests, clingstones are more challenging to pit and slice. Wini Moranville, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 May 2023 The oft-Instagrammed donut peach, for example, is a clingstone. Ella Quittner, Bon Appétit, 16 July 2022 There are two varieties in this family: freestone, whose pits come out freely when the fruit is cut in half, and clingstone, whose pits cling to the flesh of the fruit. Amisha Gurbani, San Francisco Chronicle, 16 Sep. 2022 Freestone and clingstone reference how much the flesh of the fruit adheres to its pit. Washington Post, 9 July 2021 Fresh peaches are organized into two types: freestone (peaches where the fruit easily pulls away from the pit) and clingstone (the fruit clings to the pit). Callie Blount, al, 15 Aug. 2019 Freestone peaches pull easily away from the pit, while clingstone peaches (as the name implies) take a little more coaxing to release the fruit. Sally Pasley Vargas, BostonGlobe.com, 24 July 2019 Peachy perfection There are three types of peaches grown in the United States: clingstone, semi-freestone and freestone. San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2019 Despite the shift in climate, peach season still starts in May with clingstones, aptly named because their flesh sticks to the pit, and eventually segues into easy-to-eat freestones. Kate Heddings, Washington Post, 11 July 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clingstone.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1705, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of clingstone was in 1705

Dictionary Entries Near clingstone

Cite this Entry

“Clingstone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clingstone. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

clingstone

noun
cling·​stone ˈkliŋ-ˌstōn How to pronounce clingstone (audio)
: a fruit (as a peach) whose flesh sticks strongly to the pit
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