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

Her Three Decibel Rule cocktail mixes Ketel One vodka and Cocchi Americano aperitif wine with lychee and crème fraîche; a nonalcoholic Cloud 9 drink riffs on the classic citrusy and creamy Ramos gin fizz. —Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026

This captivating fruity-floral blend bursts with a juicy mix of peach, lychee, and bergamot. —Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 14 Mar. 2026

Made with 97% naturally derived ingredients like mango butter, lychee extract and aloe vera. —Tory Johnson, ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026

With damask rose at its center, the scent is lifted by the juicy brightness of lychee for a crisp burst. —Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 27 Feb. 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"