Main Entry:

lin·den

Pronunciation:

\ˈlin-dən\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

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

Date:

1577

1: any of a genus (Tilia of the family Tiliaceae, the linden 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: as a: a commonly cultivated European tree (T. europaea syn. T. vulgaris) much used for ornamental planting b: a tree (T. americana) chiefly of the central and eastern United States —called also basswood 2: the light fine-grained white wood of a linden ; especially : basswood 2

[linden illustration]