noun
Shea
shay
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
Word Forms
sheas plural
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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.