any of various chiefly tropical American sapindaceous trees of the genus Sapindus, esp S. saponaria (or S. marginatus), having pulpy fruit containing saponin
2.
a related plant, S. drummondii, of the southwestern US
3.
the fruit of any of these trees
Also called: chinaberry
soapberry in American English
(ˈsoʊpˌbɛri)
nounWord forms: pluralˈsoapˌberries
1.
any of a genus (Sapindus) of trees of the soapberry family, with fruits containing saponin
2.
the globular fruit, with yellowish flesh and a large, round seed
adjective
3.
designating a family (Sapindaceae, order Sapindales) of chiefly tropical, dicotyledonous treesand shrubs, including the litchi and longan