1The cherry tree, or its blossoms — a tree that flowers in pale pink or white in spring. In Japan it is the classic flower for hanami (blossom viewing) and symbolizes the start-of-school-year season.
毎年、公園で桜を見に行きます。
I go to the park every year to see the cherry blossoms.
入学式は桜が満開の頃に行われることが多い。
Entrance ceremonies often take place when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.
桜の花びらが風に舞って、川面がピンクに染まった。
The cherry blossom petals danced in the wind, dyeing the river's surface pink.
この公園には樹齢200年の桜の木がある。
This park has a 200-year-old cherry tree.
2A shill or paid extra — usually written in katakana as サクラ. Someone paid to pose as a genuine customer or audience member so that a shop or event looks more popular than it really is.
会場にはサクラがいて、客がたくさん来ているように見せていた。
There were shills in the venue, making it look like a lot of customers had come.
ネットのレビューにサクラが紛れていることがあるので、注意して読んだ方がいい。
Online reviews sometimes have shills mixed in, so it's best to read them carefully.
新製品の紹介イベントでサクラを雇って拍手をさせた。
At the new product launch event, they hired shills to applaud.
3A hired applauder — someone employed at a stage show or TV recording to laugh or clap so the audience reaction looks bigger than it is. Usually written サクラ.
テレビ番組の収録で、サクラが笑いや拍手を作っていた。
During the TV recording, hired audience members were creating laughter and applause.
彼は昔、舞台のサクラとして雇われたことがあると言った。
He said he'd once worked as a hired applauder for a stage show.
4Horse meat — sometimes referred to euphemistically as 'sakura' (or 桜肉) on restaurant menus and in casual speech.
その店では馬肉を「桜」と呼んでメニューに載せている。
That shop lists horse meat on its menu under the name 'sakura'.
桜（馬肉）は脂肪が少なく、独特の風味がある。
Horse meat ('sakura') is low in fat and has a distinctive flavor.