rhododendron

American  

[roh-duh-den-druhn] / ˌroʊ dəˈdɛn drən /

noun

1. 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.

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rhododendron British  

/ ˌrəʊdəˈdɛndrən /

noun

1. Also called (US): rosebay. 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 flowers See also azalea

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Etymology

Origin of rhododendron

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rhododendron

In the plant world, amongst the biggest offenders are the invasive Japanese knotweed which damages people's homes, or rhododendron that leaves toxins in soils.

From BBC ● May 30, 2026

Here’s that bird again, launching from the rhododendron, banging his forehead on my living room window.

From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2025

Just outside her window, she could see hot-pink rhododendron flowers and the stately redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2025

The blackened site of the plane crash, overgrown with rhododendron bushes and hidden in the quiet woodlands of eastern England, had for 80 years been the final resting place of a missing American pilot.

From New York Times ● May 23, 2024

A few days after Phoebe and I had seen Mr. Birkway and Mrs. Cadaver whacking away at the rhododendron, I walked home with Phoebe after school.

From "Walk Two Moons" by Sharon Creech

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