sandalwood

[ san-dl-wood ]

noun

1. the fragrant heartwood of any of certain Asian trees of the genus Santalum, used for ornamental carving and burned as incense.
2. any of these trees, especially S. album white sandalwood, an evergreen of India, having ovate leaves and yellowish flowers that turn red.
3. any of various related or similar trees or their woods, wood, especially an East Indian tree, Pterocarpus santalinus red sandalwood, of the legume family, or its heavy dark-red wood that yields a dye.

sandalwood

/ ˈsændəlˌwʊd /

noun

1. any of several evergreen hemiparasitic trees of the genus Santalum, esp S. album ( white sandalwood ), of S Asia and Australia, having hard light-coloured heartwood: family Santalaceae
2. the wood of any of these trees, which is used for carving, is burned as incense, and yields an aromatic oil used in perfumery
3. any of various similar trees or their wood, esp Pterocarpus santalinus ( red sandalwood ), a leguminous tree of SE Asia having dark red wood used as a dye

Word History and Origins

Origin of sandalwood¹

First recorded in 1505–15; sandal ² + wood ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of sandalwood¹

C14 sandal, from Medieval Latin sandalum, from Late Greek sandanon, from Sanskrit candana sandalwood

Example Sentences

The delightful result is layered with vanilla, oak, and a sweet sandalwood.

From Outside Online

The labels tout sandalwood and tobacco, but I just smell my high school locker room and the desperate attempt to cover up teenage body odor.

From Outside Online

Banquet tables were bedecked with orchids, candles, and sandalwood fans to prevent sweating in eveningwear.

From The Daily Beast

A heavy vapor ascended into his nostrils, a vapor warm with the perfume of burning sandalwood and aromatic unguents and spices.

From Project Gutenberg

In a square box, smelling of sandalwood, was an exquisite kimono of palest pink crêpe, embroidered with wisteria blossoms.

From Project Gutenberg

Cynthia thought she liked it better than sandalwood and the pungent Oriental perfumes.

From Project Gutenberg

He sent the amber to her in a sandalwood box cunningly carved and inlaid with ivory and ebony and silver.

From Project Gutenberg

The strange perfume was that of sandalwood oil, and he instantly realised what the circumstance meant.

From Project Gutenberg