lichee

1 of 2

noun (1)

li·​chee

less common spelling of lychee

1

or lychee nut or litchi nut or less commonly lichee nut : the small, oval to roundish fruit of a Chinese tree (Litchi chinensis) of the soapberry family having a rough or warty, yellow, pink, or reddish leathery rind and sweet to slightly acidic usually whitish edible flesh that surrounds a single large seed

Note: The lychee, grown commercially in tropical and subtropical regions, is a type of fruit called a drupe, and its edible flesh is the fruit's aril.

2

: a slow-growing tree that bears lychees and has glossy, leathery leaves and terminal clusters of tiny, apetalous, greenish-white to yellow flowers

lychee

2 of 2

noun (2)

ly·​chee ˈlē-(ˌ)chē  ˈlī- 

variants or litchi or less commonly lichee

1

or lychee nut or litchi nut or less commonly lichee nut : the small, oval to roundish fruit of a Chinese tree (Litchi chinensis) of the soapberry family having a rough or warty, yellow, pink, or reddish leathery rind and sweet to slightly acidic usually whitish edible flesh that surrounds a single large seed

Note: The lychee, grown commercially in tropical and subtropical regions, is a type of fruit called a drupe, and its edible flesh is the fruit's aril.

2

: a slow-growing tree that bears lychees and has glossy, leathery leaves and terminal clusters of tiny, apetalous, greenish-white to yellow flowers

Examples of lichee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The outdoor deck has ringside seats to view the waterfront at sunset, with an ice-cold lychee martini in hand. —Zoey Goto, Travel + Leisure, 2 June 2026

Signature drinks include a miso old fashioned, an oolong Manhattan and the kaffir lime soda, which combines Suntory Roku gin with kaffir lime, lychee, lemon, saffron and soda. —Kansas City Star, 31 May 2026

Expect rose, lychee, candied orange peel, and a quiet Mizunara spice on the finish. —Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026

The menu features craft cocktails, beer, wine, and a handful of light bites—Lili’s Martini, a lychee-and-lemon take on the classic cocktail, is the standout drink. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Chinese (Beijing) lìzhī

First Known Use

Noun (2)

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lichee

• bitchy
• itchy
• pitchy

Kids Definition

lichee

variant of lychee