Definition

A small citrus fruit that is orange in color and has a sweet taste, often easy to peel and separate into segments.

Example

I packed a tangerine in my lunch for a healthy snack.

Conversation

I just bought some delicious tangerines at the market today.

Oh nice! I love tangerines — they're so sweet and easy to peel.

Yeah, they remind me of summer days when we used to eat them outside.

Exactly! They make a great snack for picnics too.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Tangerine → The word originates from the name of the city Tangier in Morocco, where the fruit was first imported to Europe. It refers specifically to a type of citrus fruit that is small and orange in color, similar to a mandarin.

Memory Tip

Think of the city Tangier, where this small, sweet orange fruit was first brought to Europe — that helps you remember that a tangerine is a type of orange fruit.

Visually Confused Words