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[parent] [thread] 11 comments
1. philip+(OP)[view] [source] 2026-02-04 03:58:27
Yes, tomato's ARE actually a fruit.

But really!?

I'll keep calling it in nice round powers of two, thank you very much.

replies(2): >>simond+9j >>assimp+Ct
2. simond+9j[view] [source] 2026-02-04 07:06:01
>>philip+(OP)
Even more weirdly, pumpkins are berries. But that’s a botanical definition. In the kitchen they (and tomatoes) are classified as vegetables.
replies(1): >>KellyC+Vi1
3. assimp+Ct[view] [source] 2026-02-04 08:32:39
>>philip+(OP)
Yes. Tomatoes are a fruit because the science says so. That non-scientific people call it something else does not change facts.
replies(4): >>TonySt+zB >>accoun+gG >>whobre+N51 >>deadwa+rx1
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4. TonySt+zB[view] [source] [discussion] 2026-02-04 09:35:08
>>assimp+Ct
Depends if you're using the botanical definition or the (more common) culinary definition[0].

I would argue fruit and fruit are two words, one created semasiologically and the other created onomasiologically. Had we chosen a different pronunciation for one of those words, there would be no confusion about what fruits are.

[0] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruit#Botanical_vs._culinary

replies(1): >>D-Mach+X14
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5. accoun+gG[view] [source] [discussion] 2026-02-04 10:10:28
>>assimp+Ct
Definitions that don't reflect peoples usage are not very useful definition.
replies(1): >>worthl+0h5
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6. whobre+N51[view] [source] [discussion] 2026-02-04 13:18:05
>>assimp+Ct
Context matters…
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7. KellyC+Vi1[view] [source] [discussion] 2026-02-04 14:35:44
>>simond+9j
Same with cucumbers and a lot more "plants" :-)
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8. deadwa+rx1[view] [source] [discussion] 2026-02-04 15:43:17
>>assimp+Ct
Knowledge is understanding that tomatoes are a fruit. Wisdom is understanding that they don't belong in a fruit salad.

Or...

Knowledge is understanding that ketchup is tomato jelly. Wisdom is refraining from putting it on your peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

replies(1): >>happym+fI1
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9. happym+fI1[view] [source] [discussion] 2026-02-04 16:29:09
>>deadwa+rx1
> Knowledge is understanding that ketchup is tomato jelly

How is it a jelly? It lacks any defining feature of jelly.

replies(1): >>D-Mach+b34
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10. D-Mach+X14[view] [source] [discussion] 2026-02-05 07:30:15
>>TonySt+zB
Yup. Though rather than say "fruit and fruit" are two words, or focusing on "definitions" (which tend to morph over time anyway), I think the more straightforward and typical approach is to just recognize that the same word can have different meanings in different contexts.

This is such a basic and universal part of language, it is a mystery to me why something so transparently clueless as "actually, tomato is a fruit" persists.

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11. D-Mach+b34[view] [source] [discussion] 2026-02-05 07:42:49
>>happym+fI1
I mean, a jelly is just broadly any thickened sweet goop (doesn't even have to be fruit, and is often allowed to have some savoury/umami, e.g. mint jelly or red pepper jelly). Usually a jelly also is relatively clear and translucent, as it is made with puree / concentrate strained to remove large fibers, but this isn't really a strict requirement, and the amount of straining / translucency is generally just a matter of degree. There are opaque jellies out there, and jellies with bits and pieces.

Ketchup has essentially all the key defining features of a jelly, technically, just is more fibrous / opaque and savoury than most typical jellies.

But, of course, calling a ketchup "jelly", due to such technical arguments, is exactly as dumb as saying "ayktually, tomato is a fruit": both are utterly clueless to how these words are actually used in culinary contexts.

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12. worthl+0h5[view] [source] [discussion] 2026-02-05 16:42:55
>>accoun+gG
Just because someone is wrong doesn't mean we need to reinforce their error.
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