papaya

American  

[puh-pah-yuh] / pəˈpɑ yə /

noun

1. the large, yellow, melonlike fruit of a tropical American shrub or small tree, Carica papaya, eaten raw or cooked.

2. the tree itself.

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papaya British  

/ pəˈpaɪə /

noun

1. a Caribbean evergreen tree, Carica papaya, with a crown of large dissected leaves and large green hanging fruit: family Caricaceae

2. the fruit of this tree, having a yellow or reddish orange sweet edible pulp and small black seeds

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Other Word Forms

• papayan adjective

Etymology

Origin of papaya

1760–70; < Spanish < Carib (Hispaniola)

Example Sentences

U.S. and Cook Islands government news releases showed him in a suit picking at pieces of pineapple and papaya as he sat opposite a group of diplomats in Hawaiian-style shirts.

From The Wall Street Journal

His cooks minced the meat with papaya, saffron and spices and made it so fine and silky that it needed no chewing.

From BBC

But, confined as they seem to be by their own "papaya rules" that require complete equality in support and opportunity for both Norris and Piastri, they cannot allow for any more mistakes.

From Barron's

Carrots and papaya plants have already pushed up through a rectangle of dark soil, thanks to a technique based on organic fertilisers made from a mixture of compost and chicken manure.

From Barron's

Asked about the prospect of McLaren deciding to abandon their "papaya rules" system of supporting both drivers equally and instead choosing to back one, he was against that decision.

From Barron's

Related Words

• cantaloupe
• gourd
• watermelon