mesocarp

1 9.9

The middle, often soft part of a fruit between the skin and the inner part that holds the seed

noun
/ˈmɛzoʊˌkɑrp/

Specialized

: mesocarpo

The fleshy mesocarp of a peach is the part we usually eat.

Examples

In some fruits, the mesocarp is dry and not edible.
The thickness of the mesocarp can vary greatly between different types of fruit.
The mesocarp is juicy.
In mangoes, the mesocarp is sweet!
In a peach, the mesocarp is the juicy part that we eat, situated between the skin and the hard pit.
The mesocarp of an avocado is the green, creamy flesh that is commonly used in various dishes.
When slicing a mango, the mesocarp is the thick, sweet part of the fruit that lies between the outer skin and the hard seed.

Surface Forms

mesocarp singular

mesocarps plural

Morphology

mesocarp = carp (semi-transparent) = meso + carp

Formed from the combining prefix 'meso-' (middle) and the combining form 'carp' (fruit); the morphological structure is clear in scientific contexts but the components are not common standalone English words for average learners.

Etymology

Mesocarp is made of meso- meaning 'middle' and -carp meaning 'fruit', so the name tells you it is the 'middle' part of a fruit. That's why the mesocarp is the layer between the skin and the seed, often the fleshy part we eat.