litchi

American  

[lee-chee] / ˈli tʃi /

Or leechee,

noun

• litchis
  plural

1. 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.

2. the tree itself.

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litchi British  

/ ˌlaɪˈtʃiː /

noun

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

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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• litchis
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of litchi

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

litchi litchis

Alongside the garden’s strutting peacocks, the notebook-wielding jury members sniff and scope their way through the alleyways, the noses among them decrypting the precise litchi, citrus and clove notes of the flowers.

From Washington Post ● Jun. 17, 2022

It’s not just the flavors, which highlight yuzu and litchi instead of the yawn-inducing black cherry or grapefruit.

From Washington Post ● May 26, 2021

New Yorkers welcomed speckled Asian pears; papaya with its lode of dripping black seeds; rough-skinned litchi disclosing creamy white flesh; knobby cherimoya with guts of custard; star fruit with its sharp angles and plasticized shine.

From New York Times ● Apr. 16, 2018

“I really like litchi, longan and rambutan—you have to peel them and take out the big kernel inside but it’s worth it,” says Ms. Chaignot, who is especially partial to longans.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2015

By some of the earlier botanical works the litchi is placed either in the genus Dimocarpus or Euphoria.

From The Nut Culturist A Treatise on Propogation, Planting, and Cultivation of Nut Bearing Trees and Shrubs Adapted to the Climate of the United States by Andrew S. Fuller

Gunawan brought us a breakfast of eggs, steamed by the volcano, and sliced bananas nestled in soft white bread, plus an assortment of TimTam cookies and litchis still in their shells.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 12, 2020

I miss the baskets of dragon fruit and litchis at the Asian market near my office.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 2, 2020

Of Borba's Replenishing water with litchi she wrote in an email, "If you need to replenish, drink plain water or enjoy it with slices of lemon," describing litchis as "delicious but not magical."

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 15, 2011

Standouts among the cool and fruity desserts include a mango lassi topped with litchis and lemon-basil granita as well as a sweet coconut cream balanced by tart passion fruit sorbet.

From New York Times ● Jul. 21, 2010

Certain bacteria and yeasts found in fermented milk, rotting litchis and other foods can combat common infections, including travelers' diarrhea and vaginitis.

From Time Magazine Archive

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