lichee

1 of 2

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

lychee

2 of 2

noun (2)

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

Bajío Sparkling Brut With a gentle, fine bubble, this offering presents a subtle brioche on the nose that gives way to a crowd-pleasing, juicy hit of lychee and white peach. — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 June 2026

The farm has pink and Thai guavas year-round, while lychee trees are in season around May until the end of June. — Delia Rose Sauer, Miami Herald, 19 June 2026

The fragrance also has enriching notes of fruity lychee and Sicilian grapefruit. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 16 June 2026

At Americana Kitchen at Loews Coral Gables Hotel, Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia Cristalino shaken with lychee, rhubarb, St-Germain, bianco vermouth and lemon, then clarified through a milk wash for a silky finish. — Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Chinese (Beijing) lìzhī

First Known Use

Noun (2)

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lichee

• bitchy
• itchy
• pitchy

Kids Definition

lichee

variant of lychee