rhododendron

[roh-duh-den-druh n]

noun

any evergreen or deciduous shrub or tree belonging to the genus Rhododendron, of the heath family, having rounded clusters of showy, pink, purple, or white flowers and oval or oblong leaves.

Origin of rhododendron

1595–1605; < Latin < Greek rhodódendron (rhódo- rhodo- + déndron tree)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for rhododendron

Historical Examples of rhododendron

Rhododendron maximum, L. (mountain laurel of North America).
Scientific American Supplement, No. 497, July 11, 1885
Various
In the morning, a covering of snow weighed on the rhododendron bushes.
The Rainbow
D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence
Great Laurel (Rhododendron maximum) is also in the heath family.
American Forest Trees
Henry H. Gibson
Here, as well as above, were laurel and rhododendron in profusion.
Spring notes from Tennessee
Bradford Torrey
The Otagos were withdrawn to the Rhododendron for reorganization.
New Zealanders at Gallipoli
Major Fred Waite

British Dictionary definitions for rhododendron

rhododendron

noun

any ericaceous shrub of the genus Rhododendron, native to S Asia but widely cultivated in N temperate regions. They are mostly evergreen and have clusters of showy red, purple, pink, or white flowersAlso called (US): rosebay See also azalea

Word Origin for rhododendron

C17: from Latin: oleander, from Greek, from rhodon rose + dendron tree

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for rhododendron

c.1600, from French rhododendron and directly from Latin rhododendron, from Greek rhododendron, literally "rose-tree," from rhodon "rose" (see rose (n.1)) + dendron "tree" (see dendro-).