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Definition of ziziphus
ziziphus
/ˈzɪzɪfəs/
ziz · i · phus
Plural:ziziphuses
ziziphus Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
13
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any spiny shrub or small tree of the genus Ziziphus in the buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae), native to warm-temperate and subtropical regions worldwide and including the jujube and lotus tree.
2
The edible, sweet, drupaceous fruit produced by various trees and shrubs of the genus Ziziphus, especially the jujube, which is eaten fresh, dried like a date, or used in traditional confections.
Synonyms
View all synonyms for ziziphusWord Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Late Latin zizyphum and Ancient Greek zizyphon, referring to the jujube tree and its fruit, ultimately tracing back to a Semitic or Near Eastern source.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Ziziphus. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/ziziphus