Quince

/kwɪns/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A yellow, pear-shaped fruit that is similar in appearance to a pear and is used in cooking, particularly for preserves and jellies.

She made a delicious quince jelly to serve with cheese.

The tree (Cydonia oblonga) that bears the quince fruit, native to the Mediterranean region.

The quince tree in the garden is blossoming beautifully this spring.

Middle English, from Latin 'cydonios' referring to the region of Cydonia, Crete, where quinces were cultivated.

quince jelly

A sweet jelly made from the juice of quince fruit.

quince blossom

The flower of the quince tree, which is fragrant and ornamental.

cydonia

The genus of the quince tree.

pome

A type of fruit, including apples and quinces.

A quinceañera, a celebration of a girl's fifteenth birthday in Mexican culture.

She's preparing for her quince this summer, it's going to be a big event.

A nickname for someone born in mid-October, as quince is typically harvested at that time.

He's the 'quince' of our group because his birthday is in October!