raisin

raisin — noun

1. a dried sweet grape, eaten on its own as a snack or added to baked foods such as

1.nounA2
Definition

a dried sweet grape, eaten on its own as a snack or added to baked foods such as cakes, cookies, and bread to make them sweeter and chewier.

Example

Rodrigo sprinkled a handful of raisins over his morning oatmeal for extra sweetness.

collocation: a handful of raisins

Kasia added golden raisins to the curry rice for a hint of sweetness.

collocation: golden raisins

Common collocations
  • seedless raisins
  • golden raisins
  • dark raisins
  • a handful of raisins
  • raisin bread
  • oatmeal raisin cookies
  • raisin bran
Synonyms
  • sultana

    a type of raisin made from green seedless grapes; lighter in colour and sweeter than standard raisins — common in British English.

  • currant

    a tiny, dark, seedless dried grape, much smaller than a raisin; made from a specific grape variety.

  • dried fruit

    a broader category that includes raisins along with dried apricots, figs, dates, etc.

Grammar Patterns

a raisin

raisins

Usage Note

Often used in the plural form 'raisins' when referring to multiple pieces. The singular 'raisin' is less common in everyday speech.

Common Mistakes

I bought some raisin from the store.
I bought some raisins from the store.
'raisin' is a countable noun; use the plural form when referring to more than one.
Idioms

River Raisin

idiom

a river about 115 miles (185 km) long in southeastern Michigan, USA, that flows into Lake Erie. The name comes from the wild grapes (raisins) that grew along its banks.

The Battle of the River Raisin was a key conflict during the War of 1812.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Raisin is the general English term for any dried grape, and it is the most common word in both American and British English. A sultana is a specific type of raisin made from green seedless grapes — it is lighter in colour, plumper, and sweeter than a standard dark raisin, and the term is more common in British English and Commonwealth countries. A currant is a much smaller, darker, and tarter dried grape, made from the Black Corinth grape variety; it is often used in scones, hot cross buns, and mince pies. Dried cranberries are not grapes at all — they come from cranberries and are much tarter and brighter in colour; they are commonly used in salads and baked goods as a substitute for raisins when a sharper flavour is desired.

raisin ↗sultanacurrantdried cranberry

Common collocations

Nouns

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'raisin' entered English from Old French 'raisin' meaning 'grape', which came from Latin 'racemus' meaning 'a cluster of grapes'. The shift from referring to fresh grapes to specifically dried grapes happened in English, while in modern French 'raisin' still means 'grape' (fresh).