chinaberry

American  

[chahy-nuh-ber-ee] / ˈtʃaɪ nəˌbɛr i /

noun

plural

chinaberries

1. a tree, Melia azedarach, of the mahogany family, native to Asia but widely planted elsewhere for its ornamental yellow fruits and long clusters of fragrant purplish flowers.

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chinaberry British  

/ ˈtʃaɪnəbərɪ /

noun

1. Also called: China tree.   azedarach.  a spreading Asian meliaceous tree, Melia azedarach, widely grown in the US for its ornamental white or purple flowers and beadlike yellow fruits

2. another name for soapberry

3. the fruit of any of these trees

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Etymology

Origin of chinaberry

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; China + berry

Example Sentences

A bolt struck a tall chinaberry tree at the edge of the field.

From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021

“It was nothing but scrub trees, chinaberry and hackberry.”

From Washington Times • Apr. 1, 2019

The thermometer on the back porch stood at ninety-two, the carhouse shimmered faintly in the distance, and the giant chinaberry trees were deadly still.

From The New Yorker • Jul. 27, 2015

I used to climb to the top of one of the huge chinaberry trees, which guarded our front gate, and look out over the world.

From New York Times • Mar. 31, 2010

Jay was sitting under the chinaberry tree with a boy I didn’t know.

From "Root Magic" by Eden Royce