arborvitae

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Any of several North American or Asian conifers, of the genera Thuja and Thujopsis or the species Platycladus orientalis, grown for timber or ornament.
  2. The white nerve tissue of the cerebellum that has a branching structure.

Pronunciation

/ˌɑɹbɚˈvaɪti/ [ˌɑɹbɚˈvaɪɾi] [ˌɑɹbɚˈvəɪɾi] /ˌɑɹbɚˈvaɪtə/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-arborvitae.wav

Word forms

arborvitae arborvitaes arbor vitae arborvitæ

Etymology

From Latin arbor (“tree”) + vitae (“of life”), literally “tree of life”, probably referring to the evergreen leaves. The anatomical sense from the branched, tree-like appearance of the tissue.

Synonyms

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