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Definition of carissa

carissa

/kəˈrɪs.ə/
ca · ris · sa
Plural:carissas
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carissa Lexical Profile

• noun

1

Any of various tropical and subtropical spiny evergreen shrubs or small trees of the genus Carissa (family Apocynaceae), native to Africa, Asia, and Australia, having glossy leaves, fragrant white star-shaped flowers, and berry-like fruits.

Example

"The thorny carissa hedge along the coastal walkway burst into fragrant white blossoms in late spring."

2

The edible, plum-shaped red or purple berry-like fruit of certain shrubs of the genus Carissa (especially the Natal plum, Carissa macrocarpa, or karanda, Carissa carandas), having a sweet-tart flavor and eaten fresh or used in jams, jellies, and pies.

Example

"She harvested ripe red carissas from the garden to simmer into a tangy, cranberry-like jam."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for carissa

• Rhymes for carissa

• Nearby Words

carfax
caribou
carillon
carissa
carlina
carmel
carmel river

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Carissa. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/carissa
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