shea
Americannoun
noun
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a tropical African sapotaceous tree, Butyrospermum parkii, with oily seeds
-
the white butter-like fat obtained from the seeds of this plant and used as food, to make soaps, etc
Etymology
Origin of shea
1799; said to be < Bambara si ( shea is Mungo Park's spelling)
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.
"Your shea butter that a lot of people use - either raw or in cosmetic products around the world - is because of bats, which disperse the seeds of the tree," she said.
From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026
Flamingo Estate blends anti-inflammatory and skin-restoring manuka honey with hydrating lanolin and shea butter for an ultra-rich yet cloud-like cream that you can use on your hands or anywhere that needs some extra love.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 20, 2025
Farmers unaware of the true value of shea nuts were often exploited by businessmen who travel to these remote areas to buy it cheaply, he explained.
From BBC • Aug. 27, 2025
Harvested fruit from shea nut trees have to be crushed, roasted and boiled to extract their oil to produce the shea butter used in cosmetics.
From BBC • Aug. 27, 2025
Only so much could be done about her hair without shea butter and a good comb, but she at least tried to redo some of the unravelling twists.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
