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 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

This beverage is made from the juice of tropical lychee, which is known for its hints of grape, pear, and watermelon, and sparkling water. —Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 1 May 2026

An early menu of the food offerings posted by an online reviewer includes tea sandwiches like ham and mustard and cucumber and duck, as well as tartlets with seasonal citrus or pear and lychees. —John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026

Fleur Narcotique features notes of bergamot, lychee, peach, orange blossom, woods, and musk. —Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 12 Apr. 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"