dragon fruit

noun

variants or less commonly dragonfruit

ˈdra-gən-ˌfrüt 

plural dragon fruits or dragon fruit also dragonfruits or dragonfruit

1

: a large usually oval to oblong fruit of any of several erect, sprawling, or vining cacti (as of the genera Selenicereus, Hylocereus, or Sternocereus) that has leathery skin with prominent scaly spikes and juicy flesh : pitaya sense 2

especially : the fruit of a widely cultivated cactus (Hylocereus undatus) of Mexico and Central America that usually has bright pink or red skin and white or sometimes red, mildly sweet flesh with numerous tiny black seeds

Suddenly, dragon fruit—also known as pitaya or pitahaya—is popping up in teas, thirst quenchers and even vodka. But its allure may have as much to do with is distinctive looks as its flavor.

—The New York Times

One of the latest foods to satisfy the United States appetite for the exotic, the dragon fruit is produced by a cactus that can draw moisture from the air like an orchid.

—A. R. Williams

Tropical dragonfruit tasting like watermelon in one bite and strawberry in another, was an enchanting garnish for Concord grape granita with a lime sorbet …

—Caroline Bates

2

: a cactus that produces dragon fruit : pitaya sense 1

Baskin's garden includes a pitaya or a dragon fruit plant that grows large red fruit with green spikes.

—Deborah S. Hartz-Seeley

Examples of dragon fruit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The farm also grows ice cream beans, persimmons, pomegranates, passion fruit, dragon fruit, cherimoyas and caviar limes in soil that has become more fertile from the biodiversity of crops. —Julie Wolfson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2024

The out-of-this-world slushy is flavored with cotton candy and dragon fruit and topped with white soft serve and blue and purple galaxy sprinkles. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 29 Mar. 2024

Sip a glass of limited-edition Eyes of the Dragon, a dragon fruit tart ale with notes of guava brewed specially for the occasion, while taking in a lion dance performance from Johns Hopkins University’s Yong Han Lion Dance Troupe. —Amanda Yeager, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2024

The Pink Drink is made with Angostura white rum, coconut cream, dragon fruit syrup, demerara and lime. —The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024

New places to eat and drink are popping up at Rea Farms this year, giving shoppers and South Charlotte foodies the chance to sip on a dragon fruit tea or slurp up steaming broth and noodles. —Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 5 Mar. 2024

Which color of dragon fruit has more health benefits? —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2023

Guinness Open Gate Brewery Raise a toast to the new year at Guinness Open Gate Brewery, which will be serving the limited-edition Luck of the Dragon, a fuchsia beer flavored with dragon fruit powder and orange puree. —Amanda Yeager, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2024

Guava cream cheese Ingredients: 12 ounces cream cheese ¼ cup heavy cream ¼ cup guava marmalade 1½ teaspoons dragon fruit puree (optional, just for color) Instructions: Place cream cheese in a stand mixer with whip attachment and whip until soft and fluffy. —The View, ABC News, 5 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined at sense 1