lipstick tree
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lipstick tree
- /ˌlɪpstɪk ˈtɹiː/ UK
- /ˌlɪpstɪk ˈtɹi/ US
Rhymes with -iː
Where it comes from
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).
noun lipstick trees
- 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. 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.)
Talk about this word "lipstick tree." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/lipstick%20tree. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. lipstick tree. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/lipstick%20tree "lipstick tree." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/lipstick%20tree.Cite this
@misc{lipstick_tree_2026,
title = {lipstick tree},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/lipstick%20tree},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
