lichee

1 of 3

noun (1)

li·​chee

less common spelling of lychee

1

or lychee nut or litchi nut or less commonly lichee nut : the small, oval to roundish fruit of a Chinese tree (Litchi chinensis) of the soapberry family having a rough or warty, yellow, pink, or reddish leathery rind and sweet to slightly acidic usually whitish edible flesh that surrounds a single large seed

Note: The lychee, grown commercially in tropical and subtropical regions, is a type of fruit called a drupe, and its edible flesh is the fruit's aril.

2

: a slow-growing tree that bears lychees and has glossy, leathery leaves and terminal clusters of tiny, apetalous, greenish-white to yellow flowers

litchi

2 of 3

noun (2)

li·​tchi

variant spelling of lychee

1

or lychee nut or litchi nut or less commonly lichee nut : the small, oval to roundish fruit of a Chinese tree (Litchi chinensis) of the soapberry family having a rough or warty, yellow, pink, or reddish leathery rind and sweet to slightly acidic usually whitish edible flesh that surrounds a single large seed

Note: The lychee, grown commercially in tropical and subtropical regions, is a type of fruit called a drupe, and its edible flesh is the fruit's aril.

2

: a slow-growing tree that bears lychees and has glossy, leathery leaves and terminal clusters of tiny, apetalous, greenish-white to yellow flowers

lychee

3 of 3

noun (3)

ly·​chee ˈlē-(ˌ)chē  ˈlī- 

variants or litchi or less commonly lichee

1

or lychee nut or litchi nut or less commonly lichee nut : the small, oval to roundish fruit of a Chinese tree (Litchi chinensis) of the soapberry family having a rough or warty, yellow, pink, or reddish leathery rind and sweet to slightly acidic usually whitish edible flesh that surrounds a single large seed

Note: The lychee, grown commercially in tropical and subtropical regions, is a type of fruit called a drupe, and its edible flesh is the fruit's aril.

2

: a slow-growing tree that bears lychees and has glossy, leathery leaves and terminal clusters of tiny, apetalous, greenish-white to yellow flowers

Examples of lichee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

So prized is litchi in China that fruit from select varieties typically sells for as much as $10 per fruit. — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 13 Dec. 2025

Noun

The Franco-Asian dialogue continues at the bar, with signature offerings including Tokyo Garden (made with Tanqueray 10 gin, shiso, sake, lychee, and yuzu). — Nick Scott, Robb Report, 11 July 2026

At Sunda New Asian, Vanilla Ice Cream & Turon Spring Roll served with premium kaluga caviar, ube rice crispy, lychee, cookie flakes, seasonal fruit, passion fruit coulis, and ube glaze. — Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (3)

Chinese (Beijing) lìzhī

First Known Use

Noun (3)

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lichee

• bitchy
• itchy
• pitchy

Kids Definition

lichee

variant of lychee