# What's the difference between a seed and a pit?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-a-seed-and-a-pit/469734>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 27, 2008, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-a-seed-and-a-pit/469734 "2008-10-27T07:22:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-a-seed-and-a-pit/469734/1 "2008-10-27T07:22:40Z")

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And how about a stone for that matter? The dictionary references I’ve looked into are vague on this point.

Cherries have stones or pits. Pits are also in avocados and peaches. How about apricots?

In particular, I’m curious what you’d call the seed-like part of some tropical fruits. For example mangoes, litchis, and longans. Seeds, pits, or stones? Thanks!

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**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-a-seed-and-a-pit/469734/2 "2008-10-27T08:24:53Z")

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I am guessing. Fruit is far from my forte.

I think if there is one inside a fruit, it’s a stone. If there’s more than one, it’s a seed. A pit is just a catch-all. There’s some trivia that fits in here about what constitutes a true berry.

I repeat, I am guessing.