A·zed·a·rach, azederach n.
1. Bot. a handsome tree (Melia azedarach) of the mahogany family, native to Northern India and China, having long clusters of fragrant purple blossoms and small ornamental but inedible yellow fruits. It has been naturalized as a shade tree and is common in the southern United States; -- called also, chinaberry, China tree, Pride of India, Pride of China, and Bead tree.
Syn: -- chinaberry, chinaberry tree, China tree, Persian lilac, pride-of-India, azedarach, Melia azederach, Melia azedarach
2. Med. The bark of the roots of the azedarach, used as a cathartic and emetic.
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Chi·na n.
1. A country in Eastern Asia.
2. China ware, which is the modern popular term for porcelain. See Porcelain.
China aster Bot., a well-known garden flower and plant. See Aster.
China bean. See under Bean, 1.
China clay See Kaolin.
China grass, Same as Ramie.
China ink. See India ink.
China pink Bot., an anual or biennial species of Dianthus (Dianthus Chiensis) having variously colored single or double flowers; Indian pink.
China root Med., the rootstock of a species of Smilax (Smilax China, from the East Indies; -- formerly much esteemed for the purposes that sarsaparilla is now used for. Also the galanga root (from Alpinia Gallanga and Alpinia officinarum).
China rose. Bot. (a) A popular name for several free-blooming varieties of rose derived from the Rosa Indica, and perhaps other species. (b) A flowering hothouse plant (Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis) of the Mallow family, common in the gardens of China and the east Indies.
China shop, a shop or store for the sale of China ware or of crockery.
Pride of China, China tree. Bot. See Azedarach.
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China tree
n 1: evergreen of tropical America having pulpy fruit containing
saponin which was used as soap by native Americans [syn:
false dogwood, jaboncillo, chinaberry, Sapindus
saponaria]
2: tree of northern India and China having purple blossoms and
small inedible yellow fruits; naturalized in the southern
United States as a shade tree [syn: chinaberry, chinaberry
tree, Persian lilac, pride-of-India, azederach, azedarach,
Melia azederach, Melia azedarach]