Mandarin Definition

măndə-rĭn

noun

In the Chinese Empire, a member of any of the nine ranks of high officials, each rank distinguished by a characteristic jeweled button worn on the cap.

Webster's New World

A high government official or bureaucrat.

American Heritage

A member of any elite group; leading intellectual, political figure, etc., sometimes one who is pompous, arbitrary, etc.

Webster's New World

A small, sweet orange with loose rind.

Webster's New World

The orange tree (Citrus reticulata) on which it grows.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Synonyms:
citrus-reticulata
mandarin orange tree
mandarin-orange
Beijing dialect
Mandarin dialect
mandarin-chinese

pronoun

Standard Mandarin, the official language of China and Taiwan, and one of four official languages in Singapore; Putonghua, Guoyu or Huayu.

Wiktionary

adjective

Designating or of a woman's dress in a Chinese style, often characterized by a narrow, closefitting, stand-up collar parted in the front.

Webster's New World

Of, relating to, or resembling a mandarin.

American Heritage

Characterized by a highly formal, self-conscious, and subtle use of language.

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Mandarin

Noun

Singular:

mandarin

Plural:

mandarins

Origin of Mandarin

From Dutch mandorijn or Portuguese mandarim, mandarij, from Malay menteri, manteri, from Hindi मन्त्रि (mantri), from Sanskrit मन्त्रिन् (mantrin, “minister, councillor"), from मन्त्र (mantra, “counsel, maxim, mantra") + -इन् (-in, “an agent suffix").

From Wiktionary
From Spanish mandarín from Portuguese mandarim from Malay menteri from Sanskrit mantrī mantrin- counselor from mantraḥ counsel men-¹ in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From French mandarine, feminine of mandarin, probably formed as Etymology 1, above, from the yellow colour of the mandarins' costume.

From Wiktionary
From mandarin (from its use in administration in imperial China)

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
See mandarin.

From Wiktionary