alder

[ awl-der ]

/ ˈɔl dər /

Save This Word!

noun

any shrub or tree belonging to the genus Alnus, of the birch family, growing in moist places in northern temperate or colder regions and having toothed, simple leaves and flowers in catkins.

any of various trees or shrubs resembling an alder.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of alder

before 900; Middle English alder, aller,Old English alor, al(e)r; cognate with Old Norse ǫlr,Middle Low German al(l)er<Germanic *álusṓ; akin to Middle High German alze<Germanic *alū́sō,Old High German elira, erila (German Erle) <Germanic *álisṓ,Middle Low German els(e) <Germanic *alísō, hence Germanic *álus, alísō; compare Polish olcha,Russian olʾkhá<Indo-European dialect *alisā;Lithuanian al̃ksnis,Latin alnus<Indo-European dialect *alsnos

Words nearby alder

Aldebaran, Aldeburgh, aldehyde, Alden, al dente, alder, alder buckthorn, alderfly, alder flycatcher, alderman, aldermanry

Other definitions for alder (2 of 2)

Alder

[ ahl-der; German ahl-duhr ]

/ ˌɑl dər; German ˈɑl dər /

noun

Kurt

[kurt; German koort], /kɜrt; German kʊərt/, 1902–58, German chemist: Nobel Prize 1950.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use alder in a sentence

The agency wants to grow and plant several different tree species, including conifers like spruce and pine as well as oak, alder, and birch.
Reforestation by LED: Scotland Wants to Grow Millions of Trees in a Vertical Farm|Vanessa Bates Ramirez|October 5, 2022|Singularity Hub
Her experiments showed — in opposition to conventional wisdom — that fir trees did better when shaded and crowded by birch and alder.
A scientist’s career in communion with trees|Kate Brown|May 21, 2021|Washington Post
Maple, alder, birch elm and the cedar family are the main culprits at this time.
PM Update: Cold winds and clear skies tonight into Friday|Ian Livingston|March 4, 2021|Washington Post
Salmon, tuna, sturgeon, mussels, oysters, and sable are marinated and smoked using hickory and alder wood.
Become a Fried Seafood Believer at South Beach Market|Jane & Michael Stern|April 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

He was promoted to CEO in 2006 with the resignation of Jens Alder, who clashed with the Swiss government.
Swisscom Head Schloter Dies in Rare CEO Suicide|Filipa Ioannou|July 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Thirdly, there certainly was gold on their Alder Creek claims, and Lucky's nugget was probably now uncovered.
Gold-Seeking on the Dalton Trail|Arthur R. Thompson
The alder-buyer's wrinkled eyes were peering sideways at an auction announcement pinned to the wall.
Mushroom Town|Oliver Onions
They stopped, I shut my door gently, and mounted on an alder tree planted against the garden wall.
Fox's Book of Martyrs|John Foxe
Later, an old wagon stand was kept there by John Alder, who had a large run of customers.
The Old Pike|Thomas B. Searight
The alder bushes grew close up to the walls of the cottage, and by stooping a little she managed to remain unobserved.
Boyhood in Norway|Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen

British Dictionary definitions for alder

alder

/ (ˈɔːldə) /

noun

any N temperate betulaceous shrub or tree of the genus Alnus, having toothed leaves and conelike fruits. The bark is used in dyeing and tanning and the wood for bridges, etc because it resists underwater rot

any of several similar trees or shrubs

Word Origin for alder

Old English alor; related to Old High German elira, Latin alnus

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