oranges

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   Round citrus fruits with a thick orange skin and juicy sweet flesh inside.

   Grammar: Usually plural when talking about more than one; the singular is 'orange'.

   Patterns

   • a bag of oranges
   • peel an orange

   She bought three oranges at the market.

   These oranges are sweet and easy to peel.

   He squeezed two oranges to make fresh juice.

2. 2noununcountable

   The color between red and yellow, like the skin of this fruit.

   Grammar: As a color it is normally uncountable: 'a dress in orange'.

   Patterns

   • in orange
   • bright orange

   The sunset was a deep orange.

   She painted the wall a warm orange.

Word forms

Common combinations

a dozen oranges

We need a dozen oranges for the party.

fresh oranges

Fresh oranges are cheaper in winter.

orange juice

He drinks a glass of orange juice every morning.

peel an orange

It is easier to peel an orange with a knife.

Synonyms and how they differ

tangerine

A smaller, sweeter citrus fruit; use it for that specific fruit, not for a standard orange.

mandarin

A loose-skinned citrus fruit; oranges are larger and have thicker skin.

Word family

orange noun

The singular fruit or the color.

orangey adjective

Slightly orange in color or taste.

Commonly confused: oranges or apple?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “oranges”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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