What does carambola mean?
Carambola is the name of both a tropical tree (Averrhoa carambola) and, more commonly, its distinctive edible fruit, known popularly as starfruit. Native to Southeast Asia and now cultivated throughout the tropics, the fruit is a glossy yellow-green berry with five prominent lengthwise ridges; sliced crosswise, each piece forms an almost perfect five-pointed star, which has made it a favorite decorative garnish for salads, desserts, and drinks. The flavor ranges from tart in unripe fruit to sweetly mild when fully ripe. In everyday speech many people prefer the simpler name starfruit, so carambola tends to appear in botanical writing, cookbooks, and international markets. The word entered English through Spanish or Portuguese, ultimately tracing back through Malay trade routes. Rich in vitamin C, carambola is prized as much for its ornamental shape as for its taste.
nounThe edible yellow-green, ridged berry of a tropical tree (Averrhoa carambola), native to Southeast Asia and widely grown in the tropics; when cut crosswise, its slices resemble five-pointed stars.
- The star-shaped edible fruit of Averrhoa carambola, eaten fresh or used in salads, juices, and garnishes.
"She arranged thin slices of carambola on top of the pavlova, each one a perfect little star."
"The market stall displayed glossy carambolas beside the mangoes and lychees."
"A garnish of carambola gave the cocktail an unmistakably festive look."
Standard English plural; sometimes left unchanged in market contexts where the fruit is treated as a mass item.
"The crate held dozens of fresh carambolas ready for export."
Slice a carambola crosswise and every piece comes out shaped like a perfect five-pointed star — no cookie cutter required.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of carambola
Carambola was borrowed into English in the early 17th century from Spanish or Portuguese, both of which took the word from a South Asian source, likely Marathi "karambal," via Malay trade networks. The same borrowed word gave rise to "carambole" and thence to the billiards term "carom," making carambola and carom distant cousins through their shared borrowing rather than through any botanical connection. The scientific name Averrhoa carambola preserves the word within botanical Latin.
How carambola is actually used
The word is somewhat formal or botanical in tone in everyday English; many speakers simply say "starfruit." Both the singular and plural are used, and unripe carambola tastes sour while ripe fruit is sweet-tart.
Easily confused with carambola
Star apple (caimito) is a round purple-skinned Caribbean fruit unrelated to the carambola, which is the ridged, star-shaped fruit also called starfruit.