greenheart

American  

[green-hahrt] / ˈgrinˌhɑrt /

noun

1. a South American tree, Ocotea (orNectandra ) rodiei, of the laurel family, yielding a hard, durable wood often used for wharves and bridges and in shipbuilding.

2. any of certain other timber trees of tropical America.

3. their valuable greenish wood.

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greenheart British  

/ ˈɡriːnˌhɑːt /

noun

1. Also called: bebeeru.  a tropical American lauraceous tree, Ocotea (or Nectandra ) rodiaei, that has dark green durable wood and bark that yields the alkaloid bebeerine

2. any of various similar trees

3. the wood of any of these trees

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Etymology

Origin of greenheart

First recorded in 1750–60; green + heart

Example Sentences

For crossing the river they have bridges that stretch from one great greenheart tree to another on the opposite bank.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

They climb up to a platform in the greenheart where the woman pauses for balance, bunches her long skirts into one hand, and prepares to walk out into the brighter light and rain.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Behind us came the oldest women, carrying smoldering torches, greenheart poles wrapped in palm-oil-soaked rags.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

A caterpillar becomes a butterfly, a bird raises its brood in the forest, and a greenheart tree will only grow from a greenheart seed.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Anatole, with his very own knife, slipped these gifts for Leah out of a branch of greenheart wood.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver