litchi

American  

[lee-chee] / ˈli tʃi /

Or leechee,

noun

• litchis
  plural

1. the fruit of a Chinese tree, Litchi chinensis, of the soapberry family, consisting of a thin, brittle shell enclosing a sweet, jellylike pulp and a single seed.

2. the tree itself.

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litchi British  

/ ˌlaɪˈtʃiː /

noun

1. a Chinese sapindaceous tree, Litchi chinensis, cultivated for its round edible fruits

2. the fruit of this tree, which has a whitish juicy edible aril

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• litchis
  plural

Etymology

Origin of litchi

First recorded in 1580–90; from New Latin, from Chinese lìzhi ( lì “scallion” + zhī “branch”)

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

litchi litchis

It’s not just the flavors, which highlight yuzu and litchi instead of the yawn-inducing black cherry or grapefruit.

From Washington Post ● May 26, 2021

New Yorkers welcomed speckled Asian pears; papaya with its lode of dripping black seeds; rough-skinned litchi disclosing creamy white flesh; knobby cherimoya with guts of custard; star fruit with its sharp angles and plasticized shine.

From New York Times ● Apr. 16, 2018

It was a little bit pear, a little bit litchi, a little bit like you’d stuck your head into a roadside hedgerow and inhaled air thick with early-summer honeysuckle.

From Washington Post ● May 2, 2016

“It’s kind of a bit like litchi but has a rose flavor to it and pairs well with strawberries. I’d add just a little bit of lime juice and maybe one pear, sliced thinly.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2015

"Or in ivory chopsticks, oolong tea, imitation jade, litchi nuts and preserved leeches!" groaned Tutt.

From Tutt and Mr. Tutt by Arthur Cheney Train

I miss the baskets of dragon fruit and litchis at the Asian market near my office.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 2, 2020

Already I’m plotting to have litchis, pork sausage, habanero and peanuts — a long-running hit at Rose’s — in the comfort of my own nest.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 20, 2019

Of Borba's Replenishing water with litchi she wrote in an email, "If you need to replenish, drink plain water or enjoy it with slices of lemon," describing litchis as "delicious but not magical."

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 15, 2011

Every so often, we cracked open our eyes and saw women feeding her peeled litchis and boiled corn, or holding her up to the window to see the sunset’s glow over the crystalline blue water.

From New York Times ● Dec. 17, 2010

Certain bacteria and yeasts found in fermented milk, rotting litchis and other foods can combat common infections, including travelers' diarrhea and vaginitis.

From Time Magazine Archive