Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
mandarin
noun
/ˈmæn.də.rɪn/
Definition
A variety of Chinese spoken in northern and southwestern China; the official language of China.
Examples
- The mandarin is the most widely spoken language in the world.
- She offered me a mandarin orange as a snack.
- The old mandarin advised the emperor on matters of state.
Meaning
Mandarin refers to both a language and a type of citrus fruit, as well as being used to describe a high-ranking government official in historical contexts.
Synonyms
- Chinese (language)
- Citrus reticulata (scientific name of the fruit)
- Bureaucrat (in historical context)
