noun
tangerine
TAN-juh-reen
Tangerine (noun) means a small, sweet citrus fruit with loose, easy-to-peel orange skin, related to the mandarin. Example: “She peeled a tangerine for the kids' lunchboxes.”
noun
1
A small, sweet citrus fruit with loose, easy-to-peel orange skin, related to the mandarin.
"She peeled a tangerine for the kids' lunchboxes."
2
A deep orange color like that of the fruit.
"The walls were painted a warm tangerine."
adj
1
Of a deep, vivid orange color.
"She wore a tangerine dress to the party."
How to use tangerine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sweet, easy-peel citrus fruit, or the bright orange color named after it.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
tangerine peel
tangerine color
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like tangerine.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- tangerines
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She peeled a _____ for the kids' lunchboxes.
Etymology
Named after Tangier, Morocco, the port through which the fruit was originally exported to Europe.
Synonyms
View more →
tangerine tree
Rhymes for tangerine
See all rhymes for tangerine →Frequently asked questions
What does “tangerine” mean?
The word “tangerine” means a small, sweet citrus fruit with loose, easy-to-peel orange skin, related to the mandarin. In plain terms, a sweet, easy-peel citrus fruit, or the bright orange color named after it.
How do you pronounce “tangerine”?
“Tangerine” is pronounced TAN-juh-reen (/ˈtæn.d͡ʒəˌɹiːn/ in IPA).
How do you use “tangerine” in a sentence?
Here is “tangerine” used in a sentence: “She peeled a tangerine for the kids' lunchboxes.”
What part of speech is “tangerine”?
Depending on how it is used, “tangerine” can be a noun and an adjective.
How many meanings does “tangerine” have?
“Tangerine” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, sweet citrus fruit with loose, easy-to-peel orange skin, related to the mandarin.
