litchi
or lee·chee, li·chee, ly·chee
[lee-chee]
- 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.
Show More
Origin of litchi
1580–90; < New Latin < Chinese lìzhi (lì ‘scallion’ + zhī ‘branch’)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for lychee
Contemporary Examples
Lychee Martini by Susan Waggoner The cocktail expert helps start the party with a new and delicious twist on the classic martini.
Historical Examples
The banks are lined with orange and lemon trees, peaches and lychee.
The 'Fan Kwae' at Canton Before Treaty Days 1825-1844William C. Hunter
lychee
- a variant spelling of litchi
Show More
litchi
lichee, lichi or lychee
- a Chinese sapindaceous tree, Litchi chinensis, cultivated for its round edible fruits
- the fruit of this tree, which has a whitish juicy edible aril
Show More
Word Origin
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