noun
Uncommon
Shea
shay
Shea (noun) means a West African tree whose seeds produce a rich, fatty butter used in cooking and cosmetics. Example: “The lotion is made with shea butter to soothe dry skin.”
noun
1
A West African tree whose seeds produce a rich, fatty butter used in cooking and cosmetics.
"The lotion is made with shea butter to soothe dry skin."
"Shea trees grow across the savanna belt from Senegal to Uganda."
name
1
A surname and unisex given name of Irish origin.
"Shea grew up in Boston in a big Irish-American family."
How to use Shea
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBest known today as the source of shea butter, a moisturizing ingredient in skincare products; also a common Irish surname/first name.
Common pairings
shea butter
shea tree
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Word forms
- Plural
- sheas
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The lotion is made with _____ butter to soothe dry skin.
Etymology
The tree name comes from a West African language; the Irish surname is an anglicized form of Ó Séaghdha.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Shea
See all rhymes for Shea →Frequently asked questions
What does “Shea” mean?
The word “Shea” means a West African tree whose seeds produce a rich, fatty butter used in cooking and cosmetics. In plain terms, best known today as the source of shea butter, a moisturizing ingredient in skincare products; also a common Irish surname/first name.
How do you pronounce “Shea”?
“Shea” is pronounced shay (/ʃeɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Shea” in a sentence?
Here is “Shea” used in a sentence: “The lotion is made with shea butter to soothe dry skin.”
What is another word for “Shea”?
Words with a similar meaning to “Shea” include shea tree, vitellaria, B. paradoxum and Butyrospermum parkii.
What part of speech is “Shea”?
Depending on how it is used, “Shea” can be a noun and a name.
Where does the word “Shea” come from?
The word “Shea” comes from Irish. The tree name comes from a West African language; the Irish surname is an anglicized form of Ó Séaghdha.
Is “Shea” a common word?
“Shea” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Shea” have?
“Shea” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a West African tree whose seeds produce a rich, fatty butter used in cooking and cosmetics.
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