avocado

What it means

1. countableuncountableThe large, usually yellowish-green or black, savory fruit of the avocado tree.

   For example, 90% of the avocados Americans consumed in 2022 were imported. Of the avocados imported into the US, 89% came from Mexico. Said differently, your guac and your avocado toast could skyrocket if 25% tariffs are levied on Mexico.

   2024 November 26, Elisabeth Buchwald, “What could get more expensive if Trump launches a new trade war with Mexico and Canada”, in CNN Business, archived from the original on 03 Dec 2024

   Synonyms: alligator pear, avocado pear, butter pear, butter fruit, abacate

2. countableuncountableThe avocado tree, Persea americana, of the laurel family.
3. uncountableA dark chartreuse color, like the color of the skin of an avocado.

   It was exactly the same as my bathroom. Same cork floor, same avocado bathroom set.

   2016, Zadie Smith, Swing Time, New York, N.Y.: Penguin Press, →ISBN, page 57

In a sentence

For example, 90% of the avocados Americans consumed in 2022 were imported. Of the avocados imported into the US, 89% came from Mexico. Said differently, your guac and your avocado toast could skyrocket if 25% tariffs are levied on Mexico.

2024 November 26, Elisabeth Buchwald, “What could get more expensive if Trump launches a new trade war with Mexico and Canada”, in CNN Business, archived from the original on 03 Dec 2024

Where it comes from

1. Classical Nahuatlāhuacatl“avocado”
2. Spanishavocado
3. Englishavocado

Borrowed from Latin American Spanish avocado, from the earlier aguacate, which comes from Classical Nahuatl āhuacatl (“avocado”). Doublet of abacate. Compare aguacatillo, avocadillo. The first mention can be found in a catalogue of Jamaican plants in 1696.