[Fr. abricot, from L. precox, early ripe.] A stone fruit, belonging to the same genus as the plum, but resembling a peach, being of an orange color, oval shape and delicious taste. The tree grows wild in Armenia and the countries eastward to China and Japan, and by cultivation it has been introduced throughout the temperate zone. It was brought into Europe in the time of Alexander the Great, and into England about the middle of the 16th century. The dried apricots of Italy are sent to foreign countries, those of Bokhara and other parts of the East to Russia, while the preserved apricots of Damascus are famous. Many apricots are now raised in California.