sandalwood

American  

[san-dl-wood] / ˈsæn dlˌwʊd /

noun

sandalwoods plural

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, especially an East Indian tree, Pterocarpus santalinus red sandalwood, of the legume family, or its heavy dark-red wood that yields a dye.

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sandalwood British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• sandalwoods
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sandalwood

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

Example Sentences

Emergency services were called to an address in Sandalwood Court, Newport at 11:30 BST on Friday.

From BBC • May 13, 2023

Meanwhile, the fast-moving Sandalwood fire in Riverside County, sparked by burning trash dumped on the side of a highway, reached 77% containment Sunday morning.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 13, 2019

The second person who died in the so-called Sandalwood Fire has been identified as 89-year-old Lois Arvikson.

From Fox News • Oct. 12, 2019

The 800-acre Sandalwood Fire east of Los Angeles is now 10 percent contained, according to the AP.

From Slate • Oct. 11, 2019

Sandalwood fans flick-flacked in front of sweaty faces, barely stirring the hot air.

From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat