\To*ma"to\, n.; pl. {Tomatoes}. [Sp. or Pg. tomate, of
American Indian origin; cf. Mexican tomail.] (Bot.)
The fruit of a plant of the Nightshade family ({Lycopersicum
esculentun}); also, the plant itself. The fruit, which is
called also {love apple}, is usually of a rounded, flattened
form, but often irregular in shape. It is of a bright red or
yellow color, and is eaten either cooked or uncooked.
{Tomato gall} (Zo["o]l.), a large gall consisting of a mass
   of irregular swellings on the stems and leaves of
   grapevines. They are yellowish green, somewhat tinged with
   red, and produced by the larva of a small two-winged fly
   ({Lasioptera vitis}).
{Tomato sphinx} (Zo["o]l.), the adult or imago of the tomato
   worm. It closely resembles the tobacco hawk moth. Called
   also {tomato hawk moth}. See Illust. of {Hawk moth}.
{Tomato worm} (Zo["o]l.), the larva of a large hawk moth
   ({Sphinx, or Macrosila, quinquemaculata}) which feeds upon
   the leaves of the tomato and potato plants, often doing
   considerable damage. Called also {potato worm}.