# Shea

/ˈʃeɪ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shea
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the tree or its seeds

noun · CEFR B2

a tree from West Africa or the seeds it produces, which are full of natural oil.

For teachers: a savanna tree indigenous to Africa, or the fruit and oil-rich seeds it produces.

- The local community earns a living by harvesting shea from the wild trees.
- The shea tree is a vital economic resource in the Sahel region, where its seeds are harvested and processed by local cooperatives.

### 2. shea butter

noun · CEFR B2

a thick, fatty substance made from shea seeds, used in lotions and soaps to soften skin.

For teachers: a fatty substance extracted from the nuts of the shea tree, widely utilised as a moisturiser in cosmetics and as a cocoa butter substitute.

- This hand cream contains pure shea to help keep your skin soft in winter.
- Manufacturers often include shea in their formulations due to its high concentration of vitamins and fatty acids that nourish the skin.

## Examples

- I use a lotion with shea to keep my skin soft.
- Many high-end skincare brands use organic shea as a base for their body butters and lip balms.
- The local cooperative focuses on the sustainable extraction of shea, providing a vital source of income for women in the community while preserving the native trees.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.