ˈmēlēə, -lyə noun
Usage: capitalized
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek melia, meliē manna ash; from the resemblance of the leaves to those of the ash
: a genus (the type of the family Meliaceae) of East Indian and Australian deciduous trees with pinnate or bipinnate leaves resembling those of the ashes, fragrant white or lilac flowers in axillary panicles, and small drupaceous fruits containing hard bony seeds — see chinaberry 2, margosa