whitebeam

American

[hwahyt-beem, wahyt-] / ˈʰwaɪtˌbim, ˈwaɪt- /

noun

a European tree, Sorbus aria, of the rose family, having leathery leaves, showy, white flowers, and mealy, orange-red or scarlet fruit.

whitebeam British

/ ˈwaɪtˌbiːm /

noun

a N temperate rosaceous tree, Sorbus aria, having leaves with dense white hairs on the undersurface and hard timber
any of several similar and closely related trees

"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

Etymology

Origin of whitebeam

First recorded in 1695–1705; white + beam

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

whitebeam

Among them is Wilmott's whitebeam, a rare tree found only in the Avon Gorge near Bristol that is now reduced to fewer than 50 individuals in the wild.

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026

It has been trying to restore the woodlands by introducing downy birch, sessile oak, hazel, willow, aspen and alder as well as endangered tree species such as Arran whitebeam.

From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2025

He is based in Gwynedd and has now joined the efforts to save the Menai whitebeam as well.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2021

There are only about 30 Menai whitebeam left - and they are all on a small stretch of coast between the Welsh mainland and Anglesey.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2021

Every woodland tree is flushing like the dogwood, Flashing like the whitebeam, swaying like the reed.

From Bulchevy's Book of English Verse by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023