noun / verb
pit
The hard, seed-containing stone inside certain fruits.
She cuts the peach in half and removes the pit.
Etymology
The Dutch source means a kernel or fruit stone. English adopted it for the hard central structure enclosing the seed in fruits such as peaches.
More examples
- These olives still have their pits.
- A cherry pit is too hard to chew.
- I pit the cherries before baking a pie.
Forms
pit · pits · pitted · pitting
pitter noun — A tool for removing pits from fruit.
Similar words
- stone
- Also names a fruit pit, but has broader nonfruit meanings.