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Glite Dictionary
fox grape

fox grape

8.2
A wild grape native to eastern North America with dark purple fruit used for jams and juices
  • noun
  • /fɑks ɡreɪp/
  • Specialized
translation icon : uva zorro
  • Many jams and juices are made from fox grape due to its distinctive flavor.

Examples

  • Birds are often attracted to the ripe fox grapes found along forest edges in autumn.

  • The fox grape is known for its sweet flavor.

  • The fox grape is well known for its tough skin and aromatic qualities.

  • Many people enjoy making jam from fox grapes.

  • One popular variety of fox grape is the Concord grape, often used to make jelly and wine.

  • Farmers often cultivate fox grapes because they are suitable for the region's climate.

  • The sweet flavor of fox grapes makes them a favorite snack during the harvest season.

Synonyms

Vitis labrusca
vsfox grape
  • Specialized
9.9

A grape vine from the northeastern United States used to make Concord grapes

is the common name for the same species, noted for purplish black fruit

Surface Forms

fox grape singular
fox grapes plural

Morphology

fox + grape

This is a straightforward noun+noun compound where 'grape' names the thing and 'fox' modifies it, so a learner who knows 'fox' (the animal) and 'grape' will infer it refers to a type or variety of grape. The compositional pattern for naming species/varieties is common cross-linguistically and therefore immediately understandable to B1 learners.

Etymology

Fox grape may come from a simple sight in the woods: people saw a fox eating the wild grapes or found the vines near fox homes. One popular story says that image made people call the plant 'fox grape', so today fox grape means a kind of 'wild grape'.