rain tree

American  

noun

1. monkeypod.

---

rain tree British  

noun

1. a leguminous tree, Samanea saman , native to Central America and widely planted in the tropics for ornament. It has red-and-yellow feathery flowers and pinnate leaves whose leaflets close at the approach of rain

---

Etymology

Origin of rain tree

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Set in a large school, shaded by huge rain trees, there were ample volunteers an officials to guide voters where to go, and how to make their choice using the new, locally-made electronic voting machines.

From BBC

“Now the rain tree is in place and it is in even further jeopardy,” she told The South Florida Sun Sentinel.

From Seattle Times

Bonsai can be done with any plant species with woody stems and smaller leaves, and the exhibit includes 15 different tree species, including a Brazilian rain tree, ficus and black olive.

From Washington Times

She would roll her walker out under the shade of the big golden rain tree in her front yard to chat while I turned the hose on the red earth.

From The Guardian

The drizzle let up long enough for us to shelter behind a rain tree at the end of the avenue and change into our new old clothes.

From Literature