1 bilberry | Definition of bilberry
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

bilberry

noun
bil·​ber·​ry | \ ˈbil-ËŒber-Ä“ How to pronounce bilberry (audio) , -ËŒbe-rÄ“\

Definition of bilberry

1 : a low-growing, erect, Eurasian shrub (Vaccinium myrtillus) having blue or bluish-black fruits that resemble blueberries but are borne singly rather than in clusters
2 : the sweet, edible fruit of the bilberry used especially in pies and jams also : the dried fruit or an extract of this fruit used as an herbal remedy

Note: Both the plant and its fruit are also called whortleberry and (chiefly Scottish) blaeberry.

3 : any of several related plants (such as Vaccinium caespitosum) or their fruit

Examples of bilberry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 Don’t miss the chance to go for a hike in one of the country’s national parks: July is when berry-picking season begins, and the hedgerows burst with bilberries and cloudberries. — Mark Ellwood, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Best Places to Visit in July," 29 May 2019 Prism is a featherlight, essence-like elixir, made with all-natural fruit acids (malic acid from apple, salicylic acid from willow bark, glycolic acid from bilberry, vitamin C from kakadu plum, and orange peel) to gently exfoliate the skin. — Sarah Kinonen, Allure, "Herbivore Botanicals' New Prism Exfoliating Glow Potion Is the Prettiest Serum of the Summer," 12 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bilberry.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of bilberry

1584, in the meaning defined at sense 2

History and Etymology for bilberry

bil- (probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish bølle whortleberry) + berry

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for bilberry

bilberry

noun
bil·​ber·​ry | \ ˈbil-ËŒber-Ä“ How to pronounce bilberry (audio) \
plural bilberries

Medical Definition of bilberry

1 : a low-growing, erect, Eurasian shrub (Vaccinium myrtillus) having blue or bluish black fruits that resemble blueberries but are borne singly rather than in clusters
2 : the sweet, edible fruit of the bilberry also : the dried fruit or an extract of this fruit used as an herbal remedy

More from Merriam-Webster on bilberry

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with bilberry

Nglish: Translation of bilberry for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bilberry

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!