eucalyptus

American  

[yoo-kuh-lip-tuhs] / ˌyu kəˈlɪp təs /

Also eucalypt

noun

PLURAL

eucalypti, eucalyptuses

1. any of numerous often tall trees belonging to the genus Eucalyptus, of the myrtle family, native to Australia and adjacent islands, having aromatic evergreen leaves that are the source of medicinal oils and heavy wood used as timber.

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eucalyptus British  

/ ˌjuːkəˈlɪptəs, ˈjuːkəˌlɪpt /

noun

1. any myrtaceous tree of the mostly Australian genus Eucalyptus, such as the blue gum and ironbark, widely cultivated for the medicinal oil in their leaves ( eucalyptus oil ), timber, and ornament

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Other Word Forms

• eucalyptic adjective

Etymology

Origin of eucalyptus

1800–10; < New Latin < Greek eu- eu- + kalyptós covered, wrapped, akin to kalýptein to cover

Example Sentences

In the park, hundreds of mostly non-native — and notoriously flammable — eucalyptuses, were considered part of the cultural historic landscape, Tejada said.

From Los Angeles Times

They are taking his eucalyptus logs to a pulp mill in Uruguay 15 kilometers away.

From The Wall Street Journal

Trails lead past old-fashioned greenhouses, beehives, and eucalyptus, palm and cork trees.

From The Wall Street Journal

From the parking lot there, walk north on the beach and follow a path up into a eucalyptus grove.

From Los Angeles Times

“The hedges are still there, but the hedges are burned. The eucalyptus tree is there, but it’s all scarred. But then down below you can still see the ocean and the surf coming in.”

From Los Angeles Times