arbutus
noun
ar·bu·tus
är-ˈbyü-təs 
1
: any of a genus (Arbutus) of shrubs and trees of the heath family with white or pink flowers and red or orange berries
2
: a creeping plant (Epigaea repens) of the heath family that occurs in eastern North America and bears fragrant pink or white flowers in early spring
Examples of arbutus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Above the tidal zone begins a maquis of mastic, myrtle, helichrysum, arbutus, and other fragrant, hardy plants, which in the higher, more remote parts of the island give way to groves of ilex, eucalyptus, and stone pine.
—
Lee Marshall, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2025
For a day trip, trek uphill through a mossy forest of arbutus trees and Douglas fir to the Manzanita Hut.
—Jayme Moye, Outside Online, 4 Oct. 2024
Those ramps from Ninth Avenue pass between massive concrete planters that each hold bunch grasses and a quartet of already large arbutus trees.
—John King, SFChronicle.com, 18 Nov. 2020
Common woods used included arbutus, bog oak and yew.
—Brenda Yenke, cleveland, 12 Mar. 2020
As hummingbirds dart among arbutus trees, the gardenias and carissa flowering beneath a jacaranda scent the air near the door.
—Emily Young, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2019
Where the rocks had spalled, the ledges were covered in moss and spiked with twisted red arbutus trees.
—New York Times, 26 Jan. 2018
The flowers include red trillium, trailing arbutus and pink moccasin flower.
—Grant Segall, cleveland.com, 14 May 2017
Keeping neighborhood covenants about tree height in mind, Crooks brought in mature trees like katsura, maples and arbutus for screening, planting dark-leafed smoke bushes for contrast.
—Valerie Easton, The Seattle Times, 14 June 2017
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Lee Marshall, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2025
For a day trip, trek uphill through a mossy forest of arbutus trees and Douglas fir to the Manzanita Hut.
—Jayme Moye, Outside Online, 4 Oct. 2024
Those ramps from Ninth Avenue pass between massive concrete planters that each hold bunch grasses and a quartet of already large arbutus trees.
—John King, SFChronicle.com, 18 Nov. 2020
Common woods used included arbutus, bog oak and yew.
—Brenda Yenke, cleveland, 12 Mar. 2020
As hummingbirds dart among arbutus trees, the gardenias and carissa flowering beneath a jacaranda scent the air near the door.
—Emily Young, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2019
Where the rocks had spalled, the ledges were covered in moss and spiked with twisted red arbutus trees.
—New York Times, 26 Jan. 2018
The flowers include red trillium, trailing arbutus and pink moccasin flower.
—Grant Segall, cleveland.com, 14 May 2017
Keeping neighborhood covenants about tree height in mind, Crooks brought in mature trees like katsura, maples and arbutus for screening, planting dark-leafed smoke bushes for contrast.
—Valerie Easton, The Seattle Times, 14 June 2017
Cite this Entry
“Arbutus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arbutus. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
arbutus
noun
ar·bu·tus
är-ˈbyüt-əs
Medical Definition
Arbutus
noun
Ar·bu·tus
är-ˈbyüt-əs
: a genus of shrubs and trees of the heath family (Ericaceae) having white or pink flowers and scarlet berries and including some from which arbutin is obtained
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share