papaya

[puh-pah-yuh]

noun

1. the large, yellow, melonlike fruit of a tropical American shrub or small tree, Carica papaya, eaten raw or cooked.

2. the tree itself.

papaya

/ pəˈpaɪə /

noun

1. a Caribbean evergreen tree, Carica papaya, with a crown of large dissected leaves and large green hanging fruit: family Caricaceae

2. the fruit of this tree, having a yellow or reddish orange sweet edible pulp and small black seeds

Other Word Forms

• papayan adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of papaya¹

1760–70; < Spanish < Carib (Hispaniola)

Word History and Origins

Origin of papaya¹

C15 papaye, from Spanish papaya, from an American Indian language; compare Carib ababai

Example Sentences

Sun-warmed papaya, halved and neatly wrapped in plastic, beckoned to be eaten.

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Remove those notes, he concluded, and your papaya, cheese or chocolate will “taste much less yummy.”

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Remove those notes, he concluded, and your papaya, cheese or chocolate will "taste much less yummy."

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One small study found dried papaya seeds were associated with reduced intestinal parasites in Nigerian children.

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I have guava and some papaya trees on here.

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Related Words

• cantaloupe 
• gourd 
• watermelon