citrus

IPA/ˈsɪtrəs/
KK[sˈɪtrəs]IPA/ˈsɪtrəs/

citrus — noun

  • citrussingular
  • citrusesplural

1. a group of fruits such as oranges, lemons, and limes that have thick skins and a

1.nounB1
Definition

a group of fruits such as oranges, lemons, and limes that have thick skins and a sharp, sour taste, or the trees that produce them.

Example

The children picked fresh citrus from the trees in their grandmother's garden.

collocation: fresh citrus

A glass of fresh citrus juice is a great way to start the day.

collocation: citrus juice

Common collocations
  • citrus grove
  • citrus orchard
  • citrus peel
  • citrus zest
  • citrus flavour

Usage Note

Frequently used before other nouns like an adjective: citrus fruit, citrus juice, citrus trees. When referring to the general category, citrus is uncountable (citrus is good for your health). For individual fruits, use citrus fruit or name the specific fruit (an orange, a lemon).

Common Mistakes

I ate a citrus for breakfast.
I ate a citrus fruit for breakfast.' or 'I ate a grapefruit for breakfast.
citrus is uncountable as a category; name a specific fruit for individual items.

Word family

  • citric
    adjectiveB2
  • citrusy
    adjectiveC1

Common collocations

Nouns

  • citrus fruit
  • citrus tree
  • citrus juice
  • citrus industry
  • citrus oil

Phrases

  • citrus-growing region
  • freshly squeezed citrus

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word citrus comes from Latin, where it referred to the citron tree. The Latin name was borrowed into English through French in the 17th century. Over time, the meaning expanded from just the citron to cover the whole group of related fruits, including oranges, lemons, and limes.