eucalyptus

Also eu·ca·lypt

[yoo-kuh-lip-tuhs]

noun

plural

eucalypti, eucalyptuses 

1. any of numerous often tall trees belonging to the genus Eucalyptus, of the myrtle family, native to Australia and adjacent islands, having aromatic evergreen leaves that are the source of medicinal oils and heavy wood used as timber.

eucalyptus

/ ˌjuːkəˈlɪptəs, ˈjuːkəˌlɪpt /

noun

1. any myrtaceous tree of the mostly Australian genus Eucalyptus, such as the blue gum and ironbark, widely cultivated for the medicinal oil in their leaves ( eucalyptus oil ), timber, and ornament

Other Word Forms

• eucalyptic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of eucalyptus¹

1800–10; < New Latin < Greek eu- eu- + kalyptós covered, wrapped, akin to kalýptein to cover

Word History and Origins

Origin of eucalyptus¹

C19: New Latin, from _eu- + Greek kaluptos covered, from kaluptein to cover, hide

Example Sentences

In the park, hundreds of mostly non-native — and notoriously flammable — eucalyptuses, were considered part of the cultural historic landscape, Tejada said.

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They are taking his eucalyptus logs to a pulp mill in Uruguay 15 kilometers away.

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Trails lead past old-fashioned greenhouses, beehives, and eucalyptus, palm and cork trees.

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From the parking lot there, walk north on the beach and follow a path up into a eucalyptus grove.

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“The hedges are still there, but the hedges are burned. The eucalyptus tree is there, but it’s all scarred. But then down below you can still see the ocean and the surf coming in.”

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