Orange

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈɒɹɪnd͡ʒ/

Definitions

1. A citrus fruit with a thick reddish-yellow peel and sweet, juicy flesh divided into segments
2. A round citrus fruit that has a bright hue, sweet taste, and is frequently consumed fresh or as a beverage ingredient
3. A vibrant fruit that belongs to the citrus family, known for its round shape, tangy sweetness, and multiple sections encased in a thick skin

Etymology: The fruit was named for a place, or rather a surname that came from one. Long before English had a word for the colour, the fruit arrived in Europe carrying a name whose route runs from Sanskrit through Persian and Arabic into Romance languages. The Sanskrit "nāraṅga" meant "orange tree," and the Arabic "nāranj" passed it on. Italian speakers then built "melarancio," literally "apple-orange," since the fruit looked like a sort of apple, and the name spread into French as "pomme d'orenge." Its Indian origin is traced to Dravidian languages, where a related word combined "water" and "fruit." English first took the word as a surname in the 13th century, taken from the French town of Orange. The fruit itself came into English in the late 14th century, and the colour sense followed in 1510. Before that, English speakers described that shade with "geolurēad," meaning "yellow-red," a compound that survives in the word "yellow-red" itself.

Synonyms: tangerine, citrus

Antonyms: lemon, lime