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carambola

noun
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car·​am·​bo·​la | \ ˌker-əm-ˈbō-lə How to pronounce carambola (audio) , ˌka-rəm- \

Definition of carambola

1 : a 5-angled green to yellow tropical fruit of star-shaped cross section

— called also star fruit

2 : a tropical tree (Averrhoa carambola) of the wood-sorrel family that is native to southeastern Asia and is widely cultivated for carambolas

Examples of carambola in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This tropical fruit, also known as carambola, comes in sweet and tart varieties and has a juicy texture similar to pineapple. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN, "Hemorrhoids: Dangers, treatments and prevention," 4 July 2017 In addition to the assortment of natives, including gumbo limbo, dwarf firebush and Florida slash pine, the city has added an assortment of fruit trees: mango, lychee and carambola, or starfruit. — Elizabeth Roberts, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Volunteers ready to plant during Oakland Park tree giveaway," 15 June 2017 And everyone can try 40 varieties of Brazil’s exotic fruits like caju, acai, carambola, caqui, goiaba and maracuja, often squeezed into Brazil’s delicious juices (sucos in Portuguese). — The Associated Press, New York Times, "Sign Up for the Sports Newsletter," 14 May 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'carambola.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of carambola

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for carambola

borrowed from Portuguese, probably borrowed from a Konkani equivalent of Marathi karambala, going back to a derivative of Sanskrit karmara- "the fruit or tree Averrhoa carambola" (as karmaraṅga- or karmaphala- —with phalaṃ "fruit"), of uncertain origin

Note: The Marathi word is recorded in J. T. Molesworth's A Dictionary, Marathi and English (Bombay, 1857), along with the variants kamarakha, karamara, karamaḷa.

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The first known use of carambola was in 1598

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Cite this Entry

“Carambola.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carambola. Accessed 17 January 2020.

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Spanish Central: Translation of carambola

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