lipstick tree

/ˌlɪpstɪk ˈtɹiː/

//ˌlɪpstɪk ˈtɹiː// noun

"lipstick-tree" is a 12-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“lipstick tree” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
13
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The shrub Bixa orellana, which is native to Mexico and northern South America; the arils covering its seeds are a source of the orange-red colourant annatto, and the ground seeds are used in tradit...

Key facts for lipstick tree
PropertyValue
Headwordlipstick tree
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˌlɪpstɪk ˈtɹiː/
Letters13
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “lipstick tree” sits in English frequency

lipstick tree falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

lipstick tree is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˌlɪpstɪk ˈtɹiː/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "The shrub Bixa orellana, which is native to Mexico and northern South America; the arils covering its seeds are a source of the orange-red colourant annatto, and the ground seeds are used in tradit...".

lipstick tree doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, suggesting the orthography follows predictable English patterns. Our dataset records no confusable match here, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: From lipstick + tree, from the resemblance of the open fruit pods of the plant to red lips, or from the fact that the consistency of the arils surrounding its seeds is similar to that of lipstick (see the 1942 quotation). The correct English form is lipstick tree, spelled L-I-P-S-T-I-C-K- -T-R-E-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    The shrub Bixa orellana, which is native to Mexico and northern South America; the arils covering its seeds are a source of the orange-red colourant annatto, and the ground seeds are used in traditional Caribbean, Central American, and South American cuisine.

Etymology

From lipstick + tree, from the resemblance of the open fruit pods of the plant to red lips, or from the fact that the consistency of the arils surrounding its seeds is similar to that of lipstick (see the 1942 quotation).

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "lipstick tree"?
"lipstick tree" is spelled L-I-P-S-T-I-C-K- -T-R-E-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌlɪpstɪk ˈtɹiː/.
What does "lipstick tree" mean?
As a noun, "lipstick tree" means: The shrub Bixa orellana, which is native to Mexico and northern South America; the arils covering its seeds are a source of the orange-red colourant annatto, and the ground seeds are used in tradit...
How do you pronounce "lipstick tree"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "lipstick tree" is /ˌlɪpstɪk ˈtɹiː/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "lipstick tree"?
From lipstick + tree, from the resemblance of the open fruit pods of the plant to red lips, or from the fact that the consistency of the arils surrounding its seeds is similar to that of lipstick (see the 1942 quotation). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “lipstick tree”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is L-I-P-S-T-I-C-K- -T-R-E-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˌlɪpstɪk ˈtɹiː/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list