mandarine

A child peels a mandarine at the kitchen table.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A high-ranking official in imperial China: "mandarine" refers to a senior bureaucrat in the Chinese civil service during the imperial era.
   • A type of small citrus fruit: "mandarine" is a small, sweet, easily peeled orange-like fruit, also commonly spelled "mandarin" (though the fruit is often distinguished as "mandarin orange").
   • A liqueur made from mandarine fruit: A sweet, orange-flavored alcoholic drink.

Usage Examples

• Official:
  • The mandarine was responsible for governing a large province. (A high-ranking Chinese official.)
• Fruit:
  • She peeled a mandarine and offered me a segment. (A small citrus fruit.)
• Liqueur:
  • He sipped a glass of mandarine liqueur after dinner. (An orange-flavored alcoholic drink.)

Advanced Usage

• "Mandarine duck": a colorful East Asian duck, often used as a decorative bird.
  • The mandarine duck is admired for its vibrant plumage. (A specific species of duck.)
• "Mandarine collar": a short, stand-up collar on a garment, typical of traditional Chinese clothing.
  • The jacket featured a mandarine collar. (A style of collar.)

Variants and Related Words

• Mandarin (n): the more common spelling for the official, the fruit, and the language; also the standard variety of Chinese.
  • He studied Mandarin at university. (The Chinese language.)
• Mandarinic (adj): relating to mandarins or the Mandarin language.
  • The mandarinic bureaucracy was highly structured. (Pertaining to imperial officials.)

Synonyms

• Official: bureaucrat, functionary, dignitary.
• Fruit: tangerine, clementine, satsuma (all similar citrus fruits, though "mandarine" is often a specific variety).

Phrasal Verbs

• None commonly associated with "mandarine" as a noun.

Related Idioms

• "To be a mandarine": to act like a powerful, aloof official.
  • He behaves like a mandarine, expecting everyone to obey him. (He acts arrogantly and authoritatively.)