yellowwood

[yel-oh-wood]

noun

1. a tree, Cladrastis lutea, of the legume family, native to the southeastern U.S., having clusters of fragrant, white flowers and wood that yields a yellow dye.

2. any of several other trees having yellowish wood or yielding a yellow substance, as Podocarpus elongatus or P. henkelii, of Africa.

3. the wood of any of these trees.

yellowwood

/ ˈjɛləʊˌwʊd /

noun

1. Also called (US): gopherwood. any of several leguminous trees of the genus Cladrastis, esp C. lutea, of the southeastern US, having clusters of white flowers and yellow wood yielding a yellow dye

2. Also called: West Indian satinwood. a rutaceous tree, Zanthoxylum flavum, of the Caribbean, with smooth hard wood

3. any of several other trees with yellow wood, esp Podocarpus falcatus, a conifer of southern Africa: family Podocarpaceae

4. the wood of any of these trees

Word History and Origins

Origin of yellowwood¹

First recorded in 1660–70; yellow + wood ¹

Example Sentences

The arboretum is home to 26 noteworthy, mature trees known as "champions" for being the largest or best representation of their species, including a national champion September elm tree and an Ohio champion American yellowwood.

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At the end, yellowwood trees turn brilliant in fall, and a legacy fir forest towers in the background.

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Not only does the village have some of the nation’s oldest and largest oak and yellowwood trees, but the trees also hide the large homes that would be difficult to see outside the winter months.

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The high conservation value designation means management now will be driven by the yellowwood trees, said Allen Pursell, director of forest conservation for Indiana with The Nature Conservancy.

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The sterling tree of the moment is the yellowwood, a medium-size shade tree with beechlike gray bark, a pleasing symmetric outline and panicles of delicate but showy white flowers that announce its leguminous clan.

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