chayote

American  

[chahy-oh-tee] / tʃaɪˈoʊ ti /

noun

1. a tropical American vine, Sechium edule, of the gourd family, having triangular leaves and small, white flowers.

2. the green or white, furrowed, usually pear-shaped, edible fruit of this plant.

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chayote British  

/ tʃaɪˈəʊtɪ, tʃɑːˈjəʊteɪ /

noun

1. a tropical American cucurbitaceous climbing plant, Sechium edule, that has edible pear-shaped fruit enclosing a single enormous seed

2. the fruit of this plant, which is cooked and eaten as a vegetable

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Usage

What does chayote mean? Chayote is a light green, pear-shaped, squash-like fruit popular in Central American cuisine.

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Etymology

Origin of chayote

1885–90, < Mexican Spanish < Nahuatl chayohtli

Example Sentences

The 11 ingredients in the book — beans, calabaza, cassava, chayote, coconut, cornmeal, okra, plantains, rice, salted cod and scotch bonnet peppers — are all inherently Caribbean ingredients.

From Salon • Sep. 30, 2024

Short and stout pattypan are as cute as buttons; slender, two-toned zephyrs look like their bottoms have been dipped in green dye; pale green chayote could be mistaken for pears at first glance.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 13, 2021

But there are also illustrations of fruits I’ve never heard of: chayote, sweetsop, cherimoya, sapodilla, passiflora and mammee apple.

From Washington Post • Jun. 21, 2021

A chayote centerpiece surrounded by turmeric root, saffron threads, whole cloves, cinnamon sticks and cardamom pods.Credit...Photo by Kyoko Hamada.

From New York Times • Nov. 27, 2019

Besides the usual fruit-and-vegetable suspects, all fresh, in good shape and bargain-priced, there are exotics like huazontle, loroco, hoja santa, spiny chayote, fresh banana leaves and Key limes.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2014