lipstick tree
/ˌlɪpstɪk ˈtɹi/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.66 in modern English
20
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
2
Syllables
9
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The shrub Bixa orellana, which is native to Mexico and northern South America; the arils covering its seeds are a source of the orange-red colourant annatto, and the ground seeds are used in traditional Caribbean, Central American, and South American cuisine.
Example Sentences
- "Bixa Orellana. Lipstick Tree, Annatto. A small tree producing ovate leaves, panicles of pink to rose flowers, and prickly tan capsules which contain seeds covered with a red coating that is the consistency of lipstick and can be used as a coloring agent. (Bixaceae.)"
- "Among flowering trees and shrubs of the Kona Coast, kalu, or yellow mimosa, is common, as is the yellow Timor shower, as is the lipstick tree, whose pods give an orange-red substance good not only for lips but—if local claims are true—for margarine."
- "If you're curious about what is a macadamia nut, turn left at the sign: royal hawaiian macadamia orchard. A narrow road bumps 3 miles through a forest of lipstick trees to one of Hawaii's new pioneer industries."
- "Along the coast road to Guayaquil are numerous plantations: cocoa, coffee, castor bean, fibers, and bananas. Here grow the tropical lipstick trees – source of color for foods — and the flowering African tulips."
- "Crushed and infused in warm water, the roots of the lipstick tree increases male desire. However, the seeds of the lipstick tree can also be used as an alternative to saffron and is added to tandoori curry to produce a red colour."
- "Achiote or lipstick trees (Bixa orellana) are tropical trees locally found in American, Caribbean, and East Indian woodlands[…]."
Etymology
From lipstick + tree, from the resemblance of the open fruit pods of the plant to red lips, or from the fact that the consistency of the arils surrounding its seeds is similar to that of lipstick (see the 1942 quotation).
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˌlɪpstɪk ˈtɹi/
- British English: /ˌlɪpstɪk ˈtɹiː/