Citrus

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈsɪtɹəs/

Definitions

1. A category of acidic fruits including oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits, known for their tangy flavor and high vitamin C content
2. A group of fruit-bearing trees and shrubs that produce juicy, acidic fruits, including popular varieties like oranges and lemons, recognized for their refreshing taste and health benefits
3. A diverse family of plants that yield tart, juicy fruits such as limes and grapefruits, celebrated for their vibrant flavors and nutritional properties

Etymology: The fruit took its name from a tree that was not a fruit tree at all. The Latin "citrus" originally referred to a citron tree or to the thuja, a fragrant conifer, and the same root gives us the word "cedar" through a different route. Scholars generally think the Latin term came via Etruscan from the Ancient Greek "kédros," meaning cedar, which is why the two English words are sometimes called doublets. Middle English speakers used forms like "citurtre" and "cytyr tre" for the citron tree, showing the name was attached to the tree before it spread to the orange and lemon. Over time the word narrowed from a specific aromatic tree to the whole family of fruit-bearing plants we now call citrus.

Synonyms: orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, tangerine