carambola

American  

[kar-uhm-boh-luh] / ˌkær əmˈboʊ lə /

noun

1. a tree, Averrhoa carambola, native to southeastern Asia, bearing deeply ridged, yellow-brown, edible fruit.

2. Also called star fruit.  the fruit itself.

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carambola British  

/ ˌkærəmˈbəʊlə /

noun

1. a tree, Averrhoa carambola, probably native to Brazil but cultivated in the tropics, esp SE Asia, for its edible fruit

2. Also called: star fruit.  the smooth-skinned yellow fruit of this tree, which is star-shaped in cross section

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Etymology

Origin of carambola

1590–1600; < Portuguese < Marathi karambal

Example Sentences

She has worn out a path along about 20 feet of the fence line, another 10 feet along my bromeliad patch, and about 10 feet in front of my carambola tree.

From Washington Post

In the street markets the aroma of mangos and star-shaped carambola fruit jostles with the pungent smell of fresh seafood.

From The Wall Street Journal

Many thanks for seeds of the Malva and information about Averrhoa, which I perceived was sensitive, as A. carambola is said to be; and about Mimosa sensitiva.

From Project Gutenberg