acacia
[uh-key-shuh]
- 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.
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Origin of acacia
1535–45; < Latin < Greek akakía Egyptian thorn
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for acacia
Contemporary Examples
The basic Acacia model, equipped with seven branches that have a combined capacity of 1.4 kilowatts, costs $100,000.
In every direction there were wide skies, gold grass hills and acacia trees.
Beyond the river, caramel plains rolled away to the distant horizon, spotted with acacia trees and slow-moving giraffe.
We saw a small group of women and children under an acacia tree and my friend and I walked toward them.
Historical Examples
If an Acacia, Mr. Bentham says, it is different from any he knows.
What walks there are where the air is all fragrance of acacia and rose and orange blossoms!
Italy, the Magic LandLilian Whiting
Death lurked for her, there outside in the dark, from behind the acacia tree!
A Bride of the PlainsBaroness Emmuska Orczy
"The acacia tree will still be there," said Miss Ponsonby firmly.
Lucy Maud Montgomery Short Stories, 1905 to 1906Lucy Maud Montgomery
No. 31562, which was obtained in a yucca and acacia association, had little fat.
Birds from Coahuila, MexicoEmil K. Urban
acacia
- 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
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for acacia
n.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper