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Glite Dictionary
Carica papaya

Carica papaya

6.5
A tropical small tree with large yellow fruit called papaya
  • noun
  • /kəˈriːkə pəˈpaɪə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Carica papaya
  • Carica papaya is a popular tropical plant known for producing sweet, yellow fruit.

Examples

  • Botanists classified the papaya tree under the species Carica papaya.

  • The Carica papaya tree thrives in warm climates.

  • Carica papaya is cultivated in many tropical regions for its sweet fruit.

  • The leaves of Carica papaya are often used in traditional medicine.

  • I bought a Carica papaya from the local market.

  • Farmers grow Carica papaya extensively due to its high nutritional value.

  • The fruit of the Carica papaya is often used in smoothies and desserts.

Synonyms

papaya
vsCarica papaya
3 1.8

A tropical tree with large lobed leaves that grows sweet orange fruit

is the botanical shrub name rather than the common fruit name
papaia
vsCarica papaya
  • Archaic
8.1

A tropical tree that produces large sweet yellow fruit

is the botanical name rather than an alternate spelling
papaya tree
vsCarica papaya
2.3

A tropical tree that grows sweet yellow-orange fruit and has very large leaves

is the general botanical term for shrubs and small trees
melon tree
vsCarica papaya
3.7

A small tropical tree that grows papayas

is the standard botanical name rather than an alternative common name

Surface Forms

Carica papaya singular
Carica papayas plural

Morphology

Carica + papaya

This is a compositional taxonomic name: 'Carica' (genus) + 'papaya' (the papaya tree/fruit), so the phrase directly denotes the papaya plant. Although scientific labels are somewhat technical, the meaning is literal and derivable from the constituent definitions rather than idiomatic, so a B1 learner who knows both parts would understand it.

Etymology

Carica papaya is a scientific name that joins the older group name Carica with the local word papaya for the sweet tropical fruit. Early scientists kept the local word 'papaya' when they named the plant, so the name helps you remember this small tree and its big yellow fruit.