quince

plural quinces

1. countableThe pear-shaped fruit of a small tree of the rose family, Cydonia oblonga.

   Synonyms: membrillo

2. countableThe deciduous tree bearing such fruit, native to Asia.
3. countableuncountableA soft yellow colour, like that of a quince.

plural quinces

1. abbreviationclippinginformalClipping of quinceañera.

   quince dress

   3 more examples

   She dances with her father. She leans her head on the shoulder of her mother, thanking her for the surprise gift of this mariachi performance, which she had first dreamed of for her quince when she was a little girl.

   2018 March 1, David Montgomery, “Why mariachi music matters in the age of Trump”, in The Washington Post

   These days many young Latinxs have chosen to sport trendier dresses rather than ball gowns, combine quince traditions with a sweet sixteen party, or even go on a quince cruise.

   2019 October 24, Cat Cardenas, “How Teenagers Are Using Their Quinceañeras to Boost the Latinx Vote in Texas”, in Texas Monthly

   It is now more common to see quinces as celebrations of identity, including for queer and transgender individuals, and quinces that honor more than the transition to adulthood.

   2019 November 12, Walter Thompson-Hernández, “The Quinceañera, Redefined”, in The New York Times

plural Quinces

1. A surname.