noun
mandarin
A small orange citrus fruit with loose, easily peeled skin.
She peels a mandarin and shares the juicy sections with me.
Etymology
The fruit name developed in association with the word for Chinese officials. The precise reason for the transfer is uncertain, so a story about officials’ robes is not asserted as fact.
More examples
- I pack two mandarins in my lunch bag.
- Fresh mandarin slices add sweetness to this salad.
- The mandarin's loose skin comes off easily.
Forms
mandarin · mandarins
Similar words
- tangerine
- A type of mandarin, typically darker orange and somewhat tart.
- clementine
- A small mandarin variety, usually seedless and especially sweet.