alder

al·der

noun \ˈȯl-dər\

Definition of ALDER

: any of a genus (Alnus) of toothed-leaved trees or shrubs of the birch family that have catkins which become woody, that typically grow in cool moist ground, and that have wood used especially in turnery; also : its wood

Origin of ALDER

Middle English, from Old English alor; akin to Old High German elira alder, Latin alnus

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with ALDER

Balder, Calder

Al·der

biographical name \ˈäl-dər\

Definition of ALDER

Kurt 1902–1958 Ger. chem.

alder

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Alder (Alnus glutinosa)—Earl L. Kubis/Root Resources

Any of about 30 species of ornamental shrubs and trees in the genus Alnus, of the birch family, found throughout the Northern Hemisphere and western South America on cool, wet sites. Alders are distinguished from birches by their usually stalked winter buds and by cones that remain on the branches after the small, winged nutlets are released. Alders have scaly bark, oval leaves that fall without changing colour, and separate male and female flowers (catkins) borne on the same tree. Some familiar North American alders are the red alder (A. rubra or A. oregona); the white, or Sierra, alder (A. rhombifolia); and the speckled alder (A. rugosa). Alder wood is fine-textured and durable, even under water; it is useful for furniture, cabinetry, and lathe work and in charcoal manufacture and millwork. Alders' spreading root systems and tolerance of moist soils lend them to planting on stream banks for flood and erosion control.