litchi

or lee·chee, li·chee, ly·chee

[ lee-chee ]

/ ˈli tʃi /

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noun, plural li·tchis.

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.

the tree itself.

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Origin of litchi

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

Words nearby litchi

Liszt, Franz, lit, Li T'ai-po, litany, litas, litchi, litchi nut, lit-crit, lit de justice, lite, liter

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use litchi in a sentence

About him were golden limes, ginger in syrup, litchi nuts, pickled leeches.
Tutt and Mr. Tutt|Arthur Train
By some of the earlier botanical works the litchi is placed either in the genus Dimocarpus or Euphoria.
The Nut Culturist|Andrew S. Fuller
Or in ivory chopsticks, oolong tea, imitation jade, litchi nuts and preserved leeches!
Tutt and Mr. Tutt|Arthur Train

British Dictionary definitions for litchi

litchi

lichee, lichi or lychee

/ (ˌlaɪˈtʃiː) /

noun

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

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

Word Origin for litchi

C16: from Cantonese lai chi

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012