chinaberry meaning and definition

CHINABERRY noun

Definition of chinaberry (noun)

1. evergreen of tropical America having pulpy fruit containing saponin which was used as soap by Native Americans
   • synonyms: China tree, false dogwood, jaboncillo, 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
   • synonyms: azedarach, azederach, China tree, chinaberry tree, Melia azedarach, Melia azederach, Persian lilac, pride-of-India