liquidambar

American  

[lik-wid-am-ber, lik-wid-am-] / ˈlɪk wɪdˌæm bər, ˌlɪk wɪdˈæm- /

noun

1. any tree of the genus Liquidambar, including the sweet gum.

2. the fragrant, yellowish, balsamic liquid exuded by this tree, used in medicine.

---

liquidambar British  

/ ˌlɪkwɪdˈæmbə /

noun

1. any deciduous tree of the hamamelidaceous genus Liquidambar, of Asia and North and Central America, with star-shaped leaves, and exuding a yellow aromatic balsam See also sweet gum

2. the balsam of this tree, used in medicine See also storax

---

Etymology

Origin of liquidambar

1590–1600; < New Latin: genus name. See liquid, amber

Example Sentences

In Melbourne, corellas have made a home in suburbs with large numbers of liquidambar trees, whose seeds they particularly like.

From New York Times • Jun. 10, 2022

Be this as it may, there are times when I sincerely long for a ball of liquidambar or a mouthful of pungent spring buds.

From Lippincott's Magazine, August, 1885 by Various

The liquidambar, as well as several poplars and willows, cannot be distinguished from those of Oeningen; the same is true of an Elm, a Carpinus, and others.

From Louis Agassiz: His Life and Correspondence by Agassiz, Louis

The star-shaped leaves and curious fruits of the liquidambar, late in the summer.

From Getting Acquainted with the Trees by McFarland, J. Horace (John Horace)

I was no longer among the heavy trunks of platanus and liquidambar.

From The War Trail The Hunt of the Wild Horse by Reid, Mayne