Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Tomato?

\To*ma"to\, n.; pl. {Tomatoes}. [Sp. or Pg. tomate, of American Indian origin; cf. Mexican tomail.] (Bot.) The fruit of a plant of the Nightshade family ({Lycopersicum esculentun}); also, the plant itself. The fruit, which is called also {love apple}, is usually of a rounded, flattened form, but often irregular in shape. It is of a bright red or yellow color, and is eaten either cooked or uncooked. {Tomato gall} (Zo["o]l.), a large gall consisting of a mass of irregular swellings on the stems and leaves of grapevines. They are yellowish green, somewhat tinged with red, and produced by the larva of a small two-winged fly ({Lasioptera vitis}). {Tomato sphinx} (Zo["o]l.), the adult or imago of the tomato worm. It closely resembles the tobacco hawk moth. Called also {tomato hawk moth}. See Illust. of {Hawk moth}. {Tomato worm} (Zo["o]l.), the larva of a large hawk moth ({Sphinx, or Macrosila, quinquemaculata}) which feeds upon the leaves of the tomato and potato plants, often doing considerable damage. Called also {potato worm}.