stone fruit crossword clue – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Crosswordanswer.co.uk! If you're looking for solutions to the "stone fruit crossword clue," you've come to the right place. We provide quick, accurate answers for all letter counts, along with helpful explanations to boost your crossword-solving skills.
Solutions for "stone fruit crossword clue" by Letter Count
4 Letters
PLUM: A small, sweet, fleshy stone fruit with smooth skin and a single hard pit.
5 Letters
DRUPE: The botanical term for a fleshy fruit with a single seed or "stone," such as a peach, plum, or cherry. This is a very common answer in crosswords for "stone fruit."
PEACH: A widely cultivated stone fruit with fuzzy skin, sweet juicy flesh, and a large central pit.
OLIVE: A small, oval, fleshy fruit with a large hard stone, used for oil or eaten as food.
6 Letters
CHERRY: A small, round, soft fleshy fruit, typically red, with a single central stone.
7 Letters
APRICOT: A small, orange-colored stone fruit resembling a peach, but smaller and often with a less fuzzy skin.
9 Letters
NECTARINE: A variety of peach with smooth skin and firm, juicy flesh, also a stone fruit.
More About "stone fruit crossword clue"
The term "stone fruit" refers to fruits that have a large, hard pit or "stone" in the center, which encases the seed. Scientifically, these are known as drupes. This category includes many popular and delicious fruits like peaches, plums, cherries, apricots, and even olives and mangoes. Understanding this botanical classification can often provide the key to unlocking crossword clues that might seem obscure at first.
Crossword setters love clues like "stone fruit" because they can lead to both common fruit names and the more technical botanical term "DRUPE." This allows for a range of answers depending on the letter count, making it a versatile clue. Recognizing whether the clue is asking for a specific example of a stone fruit or the general classification is crucial for solving.
When you encounter a "stone fruit" clue, consider the number of letters first. If it's 5 letters, 'DRUPE' or 'PEACH' are strong candidates. For other lengths, think of well-known examples that fit. The more you familiarize yourself with common crossword categories and their potential answers, the faster you'll become at solving them.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Think Broadly and Specifically: For clues like "stone fruit," remember there might be a general, scientific term (DRUPE) or specific examples (PEACH, PLUM, CHERRY). Always consider both angles based on the letter count.
- Check for Synonyms and Categories: Many crossword clues rely on knowing synonyms or identifying the category a word belongs to. For "stone fruit," knowing fruits that fall into this group is key.
- Use Cross-References: If you're stuck on "stone fruit," try solving intersecting clues first. The letters filled in from other answers can often reveal the correct stone fruit.
- Consider Less Common Definitions: Sometimes, crossword clues use a less common or scientific definition of a common word. 'DRUPE' is a perfect example of this for "stone fruit."
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a stone fruit?
A stone fruit, also known as a drupe, is a type of fruit that has a large, hard seed (or 'stone') in its center. This stone is typically surrounded by a fleshy outer part, which is the edible portion of the fruit. Examples include peaches, plums, cherries, and olives.
Why are stone fruits common in crosswords?
Stone fruits are common in crosswords for several reasons: they have varied spellings and lengths (e.g., PLUM, PEACH, CHERRY, DRUPE), the botanical term 'DRUPE' is a specific, often less obvious answer that solvers enjoy discovering, and they represent a broad, recognizable category of produce.
Are all fruits with a pit considered stone fruits?
While many fruits with a pit are stone fruits, not all are. The defining characteristic of a stone fruit (drupe) is the hard, stony endocarp (the innermost layer of the fruit wall) that encloses the seed. Some fruits like avocados also have a single large seed, but they are botanically classified differently (they are considered a large berry with a single seed).