linden

noun

lin·​den ˈlin-dən 

1

: any of a genus (Tilia of the family Malvaceae, the mallow family) of deciduous trees of temperate regions that have cordate leaves and a winglike bract attached to the peduncle of the flower and fruit and that are often planted as ornamental and shade trees: such as

a

: a commonly cultivated European tree (T. europaea synonym T. vulgaris) much used for ornamental planting

b

: a tree (T. americana) chiefly of the central and eastern U.S.

called also basswood

2

: the light fine-grained white wood of a linden

especially : basswood sense 2

Illustration of linden

• branch with bract and fruit

Examples of linden in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There was no indication that the American linden across the street from Abraham Lincoln’s home in Springfield was any different than any of the other 270 trees that populate the four-block National Historic Site along Eighth Street. —Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026

The queen ceremonially planted a tree, a little-leaf linden, on the South Lawn. —Kierra Frazier, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026

While the adults chew on ornamental plants, fruit trees, berry plants, and many different shade and ornamental trees such as linden, Japanese maple, crepe myrtle, and flowering crabapple, the grubs feed on the roots of turfgrasses and vegetable seedlings, says Potter. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2026

Enter the white basswood (Tilia americana), also known as American linden. —Derek Carwood, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, made of linden wood, from Old English, from lind linden tree; probably akin to Old English līthe gentle — more at lithe

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

linden

noun

lin·​den ˈlin-dən 

1

: any of a genus of trees with large heart-shaped leaves and drooping clusters of yellowish flowers that are often planted as ornamental or shade trees

2

: the light white wood of a linden

Geographical Definition

Linden

geographical name

Lin·​den ˈlin-dən 

city in northeastern New Jersey south-southwest of Elizabeth population 40,499