papaya Hear it!

papaya definition

pa·paya (pə pī′ə, -pä′yə)

noun

  1. a tropical American tree (Carica papaya) of the papaya family, resembling a palm, having a bunch of large leaves at the top, and bearing a large, oblong, yellowish-orange fruit like a melon
  2. its fruit, eaten raw or cooked, and also valued for its juice

Etymology: Sp < Carib or Arawak name of the fruit

adjective

designating a family (Caricaceae, order Violales) of tropical and subtropical dicotyledonous trees and shrubs

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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