lignum vitae
[ lig-nuhm -vahy-tee, vee-tahy ]
/ ˈlɪg nəm ˈvaɪ ti, ˈvi taɪ /
noun
either of two tropical American trees, Guaiacum officinale or G. sanctum, of the caltrop family, having very hard, heavy wood.
the wood of such a tree, used for making pulley blocks, mallet heads, bearings, etc.
any of several other trees yielding a similar hard wood.
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Origin of lignum vitae
1585–95; <New Latin, Late Latin, name of the tree, literally, wood of life
Words nearby lignum vitae
lignivorous, ligno-, lignocaine, lignocellulose, lignum, lignum vitae, ligroin, lig snail, ligula, ligulate, ligule
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
British Dictionary definitions for lignum vitae
lignum vitae
/ (ˈlɪɡnəm ˈvaɪtɪ) /
noun
either of two zygophyllaceous tropical American trees, Guaiacum officinale or G. sanctum, having blue or purple flowers
the heavy resinous wood of either of these trees, which is used in machine bearings, casters, etc: formerly thought to have medicinal properties
See also guaiacum
Word Origin for lignum vitae
New Latin, from Late Latin, literally: wood of life
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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