lychee

noun

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 lychee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Made from additive-free rum mixed with real fruit juices (think tropical, like guava, lime, and lychee), natural sugar and coloring from vegetable juice, the line currently offers three rum drinks and one gin cocktail. —Jeanne O'Brien Coffey, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024

The scent features soft, fruity notes of wild fig, coconut milk, and lychee. —Malia Griggs, SELF, 21 Nov. 2024

For an interactive touch, there was also a martini cart serving espresso, lychee, and dirty martinis. —Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2024

Judging Panel described the Tomatin single malt Scotch whisky as featuring: Succulent aromas of lychee, creamy vanilla, and warm cinnamon. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Chinese (Beijing) lìzhī

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

lychee

noun

ly·​chee

variants or litchi also lichee

ˈlē-(ˌ)chē,

ˈlī-

1

: the oval fruit of a Chinese tree related to the soapberries and having a hard reddish outer covering and sweet whitish edible flesh surrounding a single large seed

called also lychee nut

2

: a tree bearing lychees

Etymology

from Chinese lìzhī "lychee"