blackberry

blackberry, name for several species of thorny plants of the genus Rubus of the family Rosaceae (rose family). See bramble.

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blackberry

Blackberry (Rubus).

(credit: Derek Fell)

Usually prickly, fruit-bearing bush of the genus Rubus, in the rose family, native chiefly to northern temperate regions. The blackberry is abundant in eastern North America and on the Pacific coast; in Europe it is common in thickets and hedges. Its usually biennial, prickly, and erect, semierect, or trailing stems bear leaves with usually three or five oval, coarsely toothed, stalked leaflets; white, pink, or red flowers in terminal clusters; and black or red-purple aggregate fruits. The several trailing species are commonly called dewberries. Blackberries are a fairly good source of iron and vitamin C.

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BlackBerry

A smartphone from Research in Motion, Ltd. (RIM), Waterloo, Ontario (www.blackberry.net) that is available in several sizes. These popular devices include phone, e-mail, text messaging, Web browsing, organizer (calendar, addresses, tasks, etc.), as well as paging, Yahoo instant messaging and corporate data access. A raft of third-party applications is also available.

It Started with E-Mail
In 1999, the BlackBerry was the first wireless device that synchronized with the company mail system so that users did not require a different e-mail address when traveling. Initially set up for Microsoft Exchange, Domino and GroupWise synchronization were later added. For individuals, a BlackBerry e-mail address is also available.

By early 2004, a million people were using BlackBerries. The number leaped to two million only 10 months later and exceeded four million by 2006. See BlackBerry Storm, CrackBerry and smartphone.

BlackBerry Keyboard

Prior to the touch screen Storm, introduced in 2008, BlackBerrys used only physical keyboards such as this one. Although small, many users learn to enter data quickly with both thumbs. (Image courtesy of Research In Motion, Ltd.)

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blackberry

1. any of several woody plants of the rosaceous genus Rubus, esp R. fruticosus, that have thorny stems and black or purple glossy edible berry-like fruits (drupelets)

2. 

a. the fruit of any of these plants

b. (as modifier): #5blackberry jam

3. blackberry lily an ornamental Chinese iridaceous plant, Belamcanda chinensis, that has red-spotted orange flowers and clusters of black seeds that resemble blackberries

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blackberry [′blak‚ber·ē]

(botany)

Any of the upright or trailing shrubs of the genusRubusin the order Rosales; an edible berry is produced by the plant.