persimmon UK /pɜːˈsɪmən/US /pəɹˈsɪmən/noun 2forms 1phrases 2 noun2 •The orange fruit of any of various species of trees in the genus Diospyros, especially Diospyros kaki (the kaki or Japanese persimmon) or Diospyros virginiana (the wild American persimmon), which is sweet when ripe and astringent when immature.I warned them not to eat the persimmons until they were soft to the touch. — 1998 •The tree this fruit grows on, generally one of two species of ebony: Diospyros kaki (Asian) or Diospyros virginiana (North American). formspersimmons Phrases with persimmon huckleberry above a persimmonSomeone or something that is better than others. huckleberry above one's persimmonSomething beyond one's power or ability.