strangler fig

noun

: any of several figs (such as Ficus aurea of the southeastern U.S.) that start as epiphytes but send down roots to the ground around the host tree
broadly : any of various epiphytic vines or trees (such as Clusia rosea) of similar habit

Examples of strangler fig in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In parts of Latin America, strangler figs are known as matapalos, or tree killers. Allison Keeley, The New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2024 The colonial buildings in honeydew and cantaloupe colors — surrounded by banyan trees, strangler figs, and jacaranda and set off by the bright primaries and pastels of the clothes of passersby — make for a delicious street scene. Chris Wallace, Travel + Leisure, 24 Mar. 2024 The duo envisioned building a treehouse between an oak and a strangler fig tree in the front yard. Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2023 For something more strenuous, Mo’orea’s Mount Tohivea offers a challenging hike shaded by a canopy of buttress trees and strangler figs. Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 7 Aug. 2023 Advertisement Banyan trees, which give the house its name, are also called strangler figs. Rhoda Feng, Washington Post, 4 July 2023 The climb is steep and my pace is slow, but Peter and Alais, a ranger who accompanies us, talk about Maasai life and point out pretty but poisonous berries, shy blue monkeys, and the strangler fig trees that the Maasai revere. Saumya Ancheri, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Apr. 2022 Others, such as the strangler fig, are innately parasitic. Rebecca Giggs, The Atlantic, 17 June 2021 But the area is also home to towering strangler fig trees whose hollow trunks, composed of roots and limbs, are perfect for an utterly unique climbing experience. Outside Online, 23 Sep. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'strangler fig.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of strangler fig was in 1933

Dictionary Entries Near strangler fig

Cite this Entry

“Strangler fig.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strangler%20fig. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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