A papaya is a fruit with a green skin, sweet yellow flesh, and small black seeds. Papayas grow on trees in hot countries such as the West Indies.
papaya in British English
(pəˈpaɪə)
noun
1.
a Caribbean evergreen tree, Carica papaya, with a crown of large dissected leaves and large green hanging fruit: family Caricaceae
2.
the fruit of this tree, having a yellow or reddish orange sweet edible pulp and small black seeds
Also called: papaw, pawpaw
Derived forms
papayan (paˈpayan)
adjective
Word origin
C15 papaye, from Spanish papaya, from a Native American language; compare Carib ababai
papaya in American English
(pəˈpaɪə; pəˈpɑjə)
noun
1.
a tropical American tree (Carica papaya) of the papaya family, resembling a palm, having a bunch of large leaves at the top, and bearing a large, oblong, yellowish-orange fruit like a melon
2.
its fruit, eaten raw or cooked, and also valued for its juice
adjective
3.
designating a family (Caricaceae, order Violales) of tropical and subtropical dicotyledonous trees and shrubs