Minneola

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A sweet, tangy citrus fruit with a deep orange skin and a distinctive bell shape, resulting from a hybrid between a tangerine and a grapefruit ; the tree that bears this fruit, which is appreciated for its easy-to-peel rind and juicy segments ; a popular variety cultivated primarily for fresh consumption and juicing in warm climates
2. A hybrid citrus fruit combining qualities of tangelo and tangerine, known for its bright orange color and seedless, easy-to-segment flesh ; the corresponding tree thriving in subtropical regions that produces this fruit ; a sought-after cultivar prized for its balanced sweetness and acidity used mainly as a fresh-eating and juicing fruit
3. A type of citrus fruit recognized by its large, rounded, sometimes bell-shaped form featuring a smooth, glossy peel and sweet, mildly tart flavor ; the plant on which this fruit grows, distinguished by stress tolerance and adaptability ; a cultivated hybrid popular in domestic and commercial markets for fresh serving and juice production

Etymology: Minneola is a fruit named for a place. It is a hybrid of a Duncan grapefruit and a Dancy tangerine, a cross known as a tangelo, and the name comes from Minneola, Florida, the Lake County community where it became a commercial crop. The town's name, borrowed from a place name rather than from any fruit term, was attached to the hybrid once it was grown and promoted there. The bulb-like neck at the stem end, which gives many of these fruits their bell shape, is a trait inherited from the grapefruit parent. The tangerine side contributes the loose, easy-to-peel skin and the sweetness, so the fruit combines a grapefruit's size with a tangerine's flavor.

Synonyms: tangelo