liquidambar

American  

[lik-wid-am-ber, lik-wid-am-] / ˈlɪk wɪdˌæm bər, ˌlɪk wɪdˈæm- /

noun

1. any tree of the genus Liquidambar, including the sweet gum.

2. the fragrant, yellowish, balsamic liquid exuded by this tree, used in medicine.

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liquidambar British  

/ ˌlɪkwɪdˈæmbə /

noun

1. any deciduous tree of the hamamelidaceous genus Liquidambar, of Asia and North and Central America, with star-shaped leaves, and exuding a yellow aromatic balsam See also sweet gum

2. the balsam of this tree, used in medicine See also storax

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Etymology

Origin of liquidambar

1590–1600; < New Latin: genus name. See liquid, amber

Example Sentences

In Melbourne, corellas have made a home in suburbs with large numbers of liquidambar trees, whose seeds they particularly like.

From New York Times • Jun. 10, 2022

The next experience was in another state, where a quaint character, visited on business, struck hands with me on tree-love, and took me to see his pet liquidambar at the edge of a mill-pond.

From Getting Acquainted with the Trees by McFarland, J. Horace (John Horace)

Those found in commerce are the balsam of Peru, balsam of Tolu, liquid storax and liquidambar.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 2 "Baconthorpe" to "Bankruptcy" by Various

The star-shaped leaves and curious fruits of the liquidambar, late in the summer.

From Getting Acquainted with the Trees by McFarland, J. Horace (John Horace)

I was no longer among the heavy trunks of platanus and liquidambar.

From The War Trail The Hunt of the Wild Horse by Reid, Mayne