litchee
Definition
Noun: A small, round fruit native to China, characterized by a thin, brittle, reddish-brown outer shell. Inside, it contains a sweet, translucent, jelly-like pulp (aril) surrounding a single large, inedible seed. The fruit is often consumed fresh but is also commonly dried, which preserves it and concentrates its sweetness.
Usage
The word "litchee" refers specifically to the fruit itself, whether fresh or processed. * The market had a beautiful display of fresh litchees. * I prefer dried litchee in my trail mix for a sweet treat. * The flavor of the litchee is delicate and floral.
Advanced Usage
- As a flavor descriptor: The distinct taste of the fruit is sometimes used to describe other foods or beverages.
- This white tea has subtle notes of litchee and honey.
Variants and Related Words
- Lychee: The most common alternate spelling.
- Litchi: Another common alternate spelling.
- Litchi chinensis: The botanical name for the litchee tree.
- Lychee nut: A term sometimes used for the dried fruit.
Synonyms
- Lychee (variant spelling)
- Litchi (variant spelling)
Different Meanings
The word "litchee" has a single, specific meaning referring to the fruit of the Litchi chinensis tree. It is not commonly used in idioms or phrasal verbs.
Noun
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Chinese fruit having a thin brittle shell enclosing a sweet jellylike pulp and a single seed; often dried
