Persian lilac n 1: tree of northern India and China having purple blossoms and small inedible yellow fruits; naturalized in the southern United States as a shade tree [syn: {chinaberry}, {chinaberry tree}, {China tree}, {pride-of-India}, {azederach}, {azedarach}, {Melia azederach}, {Melia azedarach}] 2: small densely branching Asiatic shrub having lanceolate leaves and panicles of fragrant lilac flowers [syn: {Syringa persica}]