citrus

/si"treuhs/, n., pl. citruses.

1. any small tree or spiny shrub of the genus Citrus, of the rue family, including the lemon, lime, orange, tangerine, grapefruit, citron, kumquat, and shaddock, widely cultivated for fruit or grown as an ornamental.

2. the tart-to-sweet, pulpy fruit of any of these trees or shrubs, having a characteristically smooth, shiny, stippled skin.

adj.

3. Also, citrous. of or pertaining to such trees or shrubs, or their fruit.

[1815-25; < NL, L: citron tree]

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Any of the plants that make up the genus Citrus, in the rue family, that yield pulpy fruits covered with fairly thick skins.

The genus includes the lemon, lime, sweet and sour oranges, tangerine, grapefruit, citron, and shaddock (C. maxima, or C. grandis; also called pomelo).

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▪ plant genus

      genus of plants belonging to the rue family (Rutaceae), and yielding pulpy fruits covered with fairly thick skins. Plants in this group include the lemon (q.v.; C. limon), lime (q.v.; C. aurantifolia), sweet orange (C. sinensis), sour orange (C. aurantium; see orange), tangerine (q.v.; C. reticulata), grapefruit (q.v.; C. paradisi), citron (q.v.; C. medica), and shaddock (q.v.; C. maxima, or C. grandis; pomelo).

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