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shea tree

American  

noun

  1. an African tree, Butyrospermum parkii, of the sapodilla family, bearing a round, smooth-skinned fruit that contains one or more seeds yielding shea butter.


Etymology

Origin of shea tree

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

It has traditionally been women who have gathered the nuts of the shea tree to produce Nilotica shea butter, prized globally for its cosmetic and culinary uses.

From BBC May 1, 2025

But the shea tree population has dramatically plummeted in recent year, it says.

From BBC May 1, 2025

Clarisse heads to the village square to cool herself in the shade of a giant shea tree that grows in its center.

From BusinessWeek Dec. 15, 2011

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