durian

IPA/ˈdʊəriən/
IPA/ˈdʊriən/

durian — noun

  • duriansingular
  • duriansplural

1. a spiky tropical fruit about the size of a small football, with soft creamy fles

1.nounB2
Definition

a spiky tropical fruit about the size of a small football, with soft creamy flesh that is pale yellow to deep orange inside, and a famously strong smell that people either love or find unbearable

Example

Sophia held her nose as her father cut open a durian in the kitchen.

collocation: cut open a durian

The spiky durian's strong smell startled Hiro, but he found the creamy flesh delicious at a Bangkok night market.

Common collocations
  • ripe durian
  • open a durian
  • durian flesh
  • durian season
  • durian smell
  • fresh durian

Common Mistakes

I bought a durian at the market — it was sweet and did not smell at all.
I bought a jackfruit at the market.
jackfruit looks similar on the outside but has a mild scent and firmer flesh, unlike durian's famously strong smell.

2. the tall evergreen tree, native to the rainforests of Southeast Asia, that produ

2.nounB2
Definition

the tall evergreen tree, native to the rainforests of Southeast Asia, that produces durian fruit

Example

A fully grown durian tree can reach over forty metres in height and bear hundreds of spiky fruits each season.

can reach over forty metres

Nadia planted a young durian tree behind her family's wooden home.

Common collocations
  • durian orchard
  • durian plantation
  • durian harvest
  • mature durian tree

Usage Note

When referring to the tree, 'durian' is almost always followed by 'tree' to avoid confusion with the fruit.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Durian is often compared to jackfruit (波羅蜜) because both are large, spiky tropical fruits sold across Southeast Asia. Jackfruit, however, has a mild, sweet smell and firm, stringy flesh that holds its shape when cooked, while durian is famous for its powerful, divisive odour and custard-soft texture. Soursop (刺果番荔枝) shares durian's creamy mouthfeel but tastes tangy and sour, with no offensive scent. Breadfruit (麵包果) is starchy and mild — it is prepared as a savoury staple rather than eaten raw as a sweet treat. At a market stall, if a fruit's smell hits you from three stalls away, it is almost certainly a durian and not a jackfruit.

jackfruitsoursopbreadfruit

Etymology

MalayPortugueseEnglish

The word 'durian' comes from the Malay word duri, meaning 'thorn,' combined with the noun-forming suffix -an — together 'thorny thing,' a straightforward description of the fruit's spiky husk. European traders first encountered durians in Southeast Asia during the 16th century, and the name entered English through Portuguese and Dutch travel accounts.

First known use

1588

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1