citron tree

7.2

A small thorny tree that makes large fruits like lemons with thick bumpy skin

noun

: árbol de cidrón

Many gardeners love the citron trees for their unique appearance.

Examples

The citron tree is known for its distinctive thick, warty fruit rind.
In ancient times, the citron tree was highly valued for its fragrant fruits.
They planted a citron tree in the botanical garden to add to their citrus collection.
The citron tree produces large, fragrant fruits.
The gardener planted a citron tree in the backyard to enjoy its fragrant fruits.
In ancient texts, the citron tree is often mentioned as a symbol of fertility and prosperity.
During her visit to India, she marveled at the large, yellow fruits hanging from the citron tree.

Synonyms

citron

vscitron tree

1 7.0

A large lemon-like citrus fruit or the tree it grows on

is specific to the plant itself rather than to its fruit

Citrus medica

vscitron tree

Specialized

8.8

A small thorny evergreen tree that produces large lemonlike fruit with thick bumpy skin

is the everyday common word rather than the scientific species label

Surface Forms

citron tree singular

citron trees plural

Morphology

citron + tree

The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from 'citron' (a large citrus fruit) + 'tree' (a plant), i.e. a tree that produces citrons. This straightforward noun–noun compounding follows common English and cross‑linguistic patterns (compare 'lemon tree'), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Citron tree is named for the large fruit called a citron and the small, often thorny tree that grows it; picture a short tree covered in big, warty, lemon-like fruits that smell very sweet. That's why the term simply means 'a tree that grows citron fruit'.