mandarin

[ man-duh-rin ]

/ ˈmæn də rɪn /

noun

(in the Chinese Empire) a member of any of the nine ranks of public officials, each distinguished by a particular kind of button worn on the cap.

(initial capital letter) the standard Chinese language.

(initial capital letter) a northern Chinese dialect, especially as spoken in and around Beijing.

a small, spiny citrus tree, Citrus reticulata, native to China, bearing lance-shaped leaves and flattish, orange-yellow to deep-orange loose-skinned fruit, some varieties of which are called tangerines.

any of several plants belonging to the genus Disporum or Streptopus, of the lily family, as S. roseus (rose mandarin) or D. lanuginosum (yellow mandarin), having drooping flowers and red berries.

an influential or powerful government official or bureaucrat.

a member of an elite or powerful group or class, as in intellectual or cultural milieus: the mandarins of the art world.

adjective

of or relating to a mandarin or mandarins.

elegantly refined, as in language or taste.

Origin of mandarin

1580–90; < Portuguese mandarim, alteration (by association with mandar to order) of Malay məntəri < Hindi mantrī, Sanskrit mantrin councilor

Words nearby mandarin

mandaean, mandala, mandalay, mandamus, mandan, mandarin, mandarin chinese, mandarin collar, mandarin duck, mandarin orange, mandarinate

Example sentences from the Web for mandarin

Sandwiched in between was a “Potbelly Punch” of SoCal Fruit Punch and mandarin vodka.

Wash ‘Pulp Fiction’ Down With a Tasty Beverage |Rich Goldstein |October 17, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
In the original Marvel comic books, the Mandarin was born and bred in China, a descendant of Genghis Khan no less.

Did Hollywood Collaborate With Hitler? A New Book Makes Bold Claims. |Christopher Bray |September 9, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
But there is one important thing they do not know, which is what it is like to be anyone except a mandarin.

America’s New Mandarins |Megan McArdle |February 21, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
To the extent that the "Tiger Mom" phenomenon is actually real, it's arguably the cultural legacy of the Mandarin system.

America’s New Mandarins |Megan McArdle |February 21, 2013 |DAILY BEAST

And thus the separation of the mandarin class grows ever more complete.

America’s New Mandarins |Megan McArdle |February 21, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Yes, take it, and keep it for my sake; you know that I broke your mandarin.

The Bracelets |Maria Edgeworth
She gave orders that when Mrs. Stonehouse arrived with her daughter they were to be shown at once into the Mandarin drawing-room.

The Man |Bram Stoker
But the mandarin had other designs, and his daughter was promised to an old but wealthy suitor.

Chats on Old Earthenware |Arthur Hayden
They all walked towards the Mandarin's house—the two Englishmen alongside their horses.

The Life of Gordon, Volume I |Demetrius Charles Boulger
Richard glanced towards Mr. Gwynn, and that great man gave his mandarin bow.

The President |Alfred Henry Lewis

British Dictionary definitions for mandarin

mandarin

/ (ˈmændərɪn) /

noun

(in the Chinese Empire) a member of any of the nine senior grades of the bureaucracy, entered by examinations

a high-ranking official whose powers are extensive and thought to be outside political control

a person of standing and influence, as in literary or intellectual circles

a small citrus tree, Citrus nobilis, cultivated for its edible fruit
the fruit of this tree, resembling the tangerine

Derived forms of mandarin

mandarinate, noun

Word Origin for mandarin

C16: from Portuguese mandarim, via Malay menteri from Sanskrit mantrin counsellor, from mantra counsel

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

mandarin

noun

adjective

Origin of mandarin

Words nearby mandarin

Example sentences from the Web for mandarin

British Dictionary definitions for mandarin

noun

Derived forms of mandarin

Word Origin for mandarin

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

mandarin

noun

adjective

Origin of mandarin

Words nearby mandarin

Example sentences from the Web for mandarin

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for mandarin

noun

Derived forms of mandarin

Word Origin for mandarin

British Dictionary definitions for mandarin