lychee

noun

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 lychee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The outdoor deck has ringside seats to view the waterfront at sunset, with an ice-cold lychee martini in hand. —Zoey Goto, Travel + Leisure, 2 June 2026

Signature drinks include a miso old fashioned, an oolong Manhattan and the kaffir lime soda, which combines Suntory Roku gin with kaffir lime, lychee, lemon, saffron and soda. —Kansas City Star, 31 May 2026

Expect rose, lychee, candied orange peel, and a quiet Mizunara spice on the finish. —Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026

The menu features craft cocktails, beer, wine, and a handful of light bites—Lili’s Martini, a lychee-and-lemon take on the classic cocktail, is the standout drink. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Chinese (Beijing) lìzhī

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

lychee

noun

ly·​chee

variants or litchi also lichee

ˈlē-(ˌ)chē, 

ˈlī-

1

: the oval fruit of a Chinese tree related to the soapberries and having a hard reddish outer covering and sweet whitish edible flesh surrounding a single large seed

called also lychee nut

2

: a tree bearing lychees

Etymology

from Chinese lìzhī "lychee"