acacia

[ uh-key-shuh ]

/ əˈkeɪ ʃə /

noun

a small tree or shrub belonging to the genus Acacia, of the mimosa family, having clusters of small yellow flowers.

any of several other plants, as the locust tree.

gum arabic.

Nearby words

ac and u, ac-, ac/dc, aca, acaa, acacia, acacia avenue, acad., academe, academese, academia

Origin of acacia

1535–45; < Latin < Greek akakía Egyptian thorn

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for acacia

The basic Acacia model, equipped with seven branches that have a combined capacity of 1.4 kilowatts, costs $100,000.
Parks and Regeneration|The Daily Beast|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In every direction there were wide skies, gold grass hills and acacia trees.
Borana Joins the Fight to Save Kenya’s Rhinos…and Wants You to Help Too|Joanna Eede|February 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Beyond the river, caramel plains rolled away to the distant horizon, spotted with acacia trees and slow-moving giraffe.
Walking With Wildebeests: Exploring the Serengeti on Foot|Joanna Eede|July 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
We saw a small group of women and children under an acacia tree and my friend and I walked toward them.
Isabel Allende: How a Mysterious Baby Girl Sparked My Fight for Women|Isabel Allende|October 20, 2012|DAILY BEAST

The testimony of Lynch and Schwarz should, therefore, forever settle the question of the existence of the acacia in Palestine.
The Symbolism of Freemasonry|Albert G. Mackey
He saw the young man come riding up the acacia path, and he instantaneously guessed his mission.
Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Vol. 15, No. 90, June, 1875|Various
Figures on their paintings are decked with crowns and garlands of anemone, acacia, convolvulus, and some others.
Catholic World, Vol. XIII, April to September, 1871|Various
He went to look for Emma, and saw her sitting under the acacia tree on the bench, which faced the other way.
Johnny Ludlow, Fourth Series|Mrs. Henry Wood
The blue jay laughed again in the acacia by the gate, laughed and flew away.
The Lamp in the Desert|Ethel M. Dell

British Dictionary definitions for acacia

acacia

/ (əˈkeɪʃə) /

noun

any shrub or tree of the tropical and subtropical leguminous genus Acacia, having compound or reduced leaves and small yellow or white flowers in dense inflorescencesSee also wattle 1 (def. 4)

false acacia another name for locust (def. 2), locust (def. 3)

gum acacia another name for gum arabic

Word Origin for acacia

C16: from Latin, from Greek akakia, perhaps related to akē point

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for acacia

acacia

1540s, from Latin acacia, from Greek akakia "thorny Egyptian tree," perhaps related to Greek ake "point, thorn," from PIE root *ak- "sharp" (see acrid). Or perhaps a Hellenization of some Egyptian word. From late 14c. in English as the name of a type of gum used as an astringent, etc.