West Indian cherry n 1: tropical American shrub bearing edible acid red fruit resembling cherries [syn: {barbados cherry}, {acerola}, {Surinam cherry}, {West Indian cherry}, {Malpighia glabra}] 2: acid red or yellow cherry-like fruit of a tropical American shrub very rich in vitamin C [syn: {acerola}, {barbados cherry}, {surinam cherry}, {West Indian cherry}]