n. 1. an evergreen of tropical America having pulpy fruit containing saponin which was used as soap by native Americans. Syn. -- China tree, false dogwood, jaboncillo, Sapindus saponaria. [ WordNet 1.5 ]
2. a tree of N India and China having purple blossoms and small inedible yellow fruits; naturalized in the southern US as a shade tree. Syn. --chinaberry tree, China tree, Persian lilac, pride-of-India, azederach, azedarach, Melia azederach, Melia azedarach. [ WordNet 1.5 ]