ailanthus

American  

[ey-lan-thuhs] / eɪˈlæn θəs /

noun

plural

ailanthuses

1. any tree belonging to the genus Ailanthus, of the quassia family, especially A. altissima, widely grown in cities.

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ailanthus British  

/ eɪˈlænθəs /

noun

1. Also called: tree of heaven.  an E Asian simaroubaceous deciduous tree, Ailanthus altissima, planted in Europe and North America, having pinnate leaves, small greenish flowers, and winged fruits

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Other Word Forms

• ailanthic adjective

Etymology

Origin of ailanthus

1788; < New Latin Ailantus, Ailanthus ( th by association with Greek ánthos flower) < Central Moluccan ai lanit ( o ), ai lanit ( e ), equivalent to ai tree, wood + lanit sky + -o, -e a definite article

Example Sentences

Invaders such as kudzu, stiltgrass and ailanthus are having a party no one seems able to break up.

From Washington Post • Sep. 7, 2021

It was April, and the branches of the ailanthus were spread as wide as the living room, creating a treehouse effect.

From New York Times • Apr. 17, 2017

In the neglected, ivy-covered garden, with its centerpiece, a glorious ailanthus tree, Santangelo discovered several unsigned sculptures in terracotta and cement.

From New York Times • Apr. 17, 2017

The "rare and beautiful ailanthus" turns out to be the weedy "stink tree," nothing like its brochure picture; the "amazing climbing peach" produces an inedible gourd unrelated to the peach.

From Time Magazine Archive

Something moved faintly across the edge of the field of vision of my left eye, but I ignored it and kept staring at the sunlight on the ailanthus leaves.

From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok