Tomato
/təˈmɑː.toʊ/noun
A red or yellowish fruit with a juicy pulp, commonly used as a vegetable in cooking.
Did you know?The word 'tomato' comes from the Nahuatl word 'tomatl', which means 'swelling fruit', reflecting its plump nature and connection to ancient Mesoamerican culture.
Etymological Timeline
Nahuatl
Nahuatl
tomatl
“swelling fruit, a descriptor for its shape and size.”
16th Century
Spanish
tomate
“adopted from Nahuatl, referring to the fruit brought to Europe.”
17th Century
English
tomato
“borrowed from Spanish, referring to the newly introduced fruit.”
Modern English
English
tomato
“the fruit widely cultivated and consumed.”