alerce

American  

[uh-ler-suh] / əˈlɛr sə /

noun

1. the wood of the sandarac tree.

2. a Chilean evergreen tree, Fitzroya cupressoides, having furrowed, reddish bark and overlapping leaves.

3. Chilean cedar.

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alerce British  

/ æˈlɜːsɪ, əˈlɜːs /

noun

1. the wood of the sandarac tree

2. a cupressus-like Chilean pine, Fitzroya cupressoides, cut for timber

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Etymology

Origin of alerce

First recorded in 1770–80; from Spanish, an extended meaning of alerce “European larch” (Larix decidua), influenced by Arabic al-ʾarz “the cypress, larch”; see origin at larch ( def. )