A cherry is a small, round fruit that grows on cherry trees, usually bright red or dark purple when ripe. Inside the sweet or tart flesh is a single hard pit that you can't eat. People eat fresh cherries as snacks, bake them into pies and cobblers, or use them to make jams and juices. Maraschino cherries, those bright red ones that top ice cream sundaes, are specially treated cherries.

Cherry trees are also famous for their beautiful blossoms. In Washington, D.C., thousands of Japanese cherry trees bloom each spring with delicate pink and white flowers, drawing visitors from around the world. Japan celebrates this annual blooming with festivals called hanami, where people gather under the trees to appreciate their fleeting beauty.

The wood from cherry trees is prized by furniture makers for its warm reddish-brown color and smooth grain. Many fine cabinets, tables, and musical instruments are made from cherry wood.

When someone describes something as cherry, they mean it's in perfect, like-new condition. A collector might say a vintage baseball card is cherry if it has no creases or worn edges.