eucalyptus

noun

eu·ca·lyp·tus | \ ˌyü-kə-ˈlip-təs

plural eucalypti\ ˌyü-kə-ˈlip-ˌtī

, -ˌtē \ or eucalyptuses

Definition of eucalyptus

: any of a genus (Eucalyptus) of mostly Australian evergreen trees or rarely shrubs of the myrtle family that have rigid entire leaves and umbellate flowers and are widely cultivated for their gums, resins, oils, and woods

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Recent Examples on the Web

To help with seasonal allergies, Berk applies a few drops of eucalyptus oil to his upper lip. — Harper's Bazaar Staff, Harper's BAZAAR, "Queer Eye's Bobby Berk Has A Fabulous Nightly Skin Routine," 24 July 2019 Insect repellent should include either DEET, picaridin, IR3535, lemon eucalyptus oil or para-menthane-diol. — Rose Minutaglio, PEOPLE.com, "The Zika Virus: Your Questions, Answered," 3 July 2019 Latulippe said the big rig shot over the right side of the road and down the embankment — perhaps 30 feet — before slamming into a large eucalyptus tree. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Big rig carrying excavator topples off south I-5 in Oceanside, backs up traffic for several miles," 27 Aug. 2019 In Hay, two Aboriginal men escorted the hearse into a park, where an honor guard of teenage boys carried the coffin to an ancient purification ceremony that involved cleansing it with smoking eucalyptus leaves. — David Maurice Smith, Smithsonian, "A 42,000-Year-Old Man Finally Goes Home," 23 Aug. 2019 When exploring the great outdoors, the CDC suggests wearing a repellant that contains ingredients like DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. — Patia Braithwaite, SELF, "8 Tick-Borne Illnesses That Aren’t Lyme Disease," 26 July 2019 One of the things Angela Dimayuga loves most about California is the scent of eucalyptus in the air. — Los Angeles Times, "Hammam Bay Leaf Rice With Soy-Cured Egg Yolks," 24 July 2019 The organization recommends using products with DEET, picadarin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or 2-undecanone to keep mosquitoes at bay. — Tainaya Nash, House Beautiful, "People Swear By These Mosquito Sticks to Stay Bug Bite-Free," 25 June 2019 How to: Put your face over a bowl of boiling water with 2-5 drops eucalyptus added. — Sunset, "Your Guide To Essential Oils," 22 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'eucalyptus.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for eucalyptus

borrowed from New Latin, genus name, from Greek eu- eu- + kalyptós "covered," verbal adjective of kalýptein "to cover, protect, conceal"; so named for the operculum that covers the developing buds — more at apocalypse

Note: The genus name was introduced by the French botanist Charles Louis L'Héritier de Brutelle (1746-1800) in Sertum Anglicum, seu Plantae rariores quæ in hortis juxta Londinum, imprimis in Horto Regio Kewensi excoluntur (London, 1788), p. 11. According to E.V. Slee et al., EUCLID: Eucalypts of Australia, 3rd edition (on-line publication), the specimen of Eucalyptus obliqua which L'Héritier described in Kew Gardens had been procured in 1777 by the botanical collector David Nelson at Adventure Bay, Bruny Island, Tasmania, on James Cook's third voyage to the Pacific.

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Last Updated

17 Sep 2019

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Time Traveler for eucalyptus

The first known use of eucalyptus was in 1801

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More Definitions for eucalyptus

eucalyptus

noun

English Language Learners Definition of eucalyptus

: a type of tree that grows naturally in western Australia and that is grown in other places for the products (such as wood and oil) that it provides

See the full definition for eucalyptus in the English Language Learners Dictionary

eucalyptus

noun

eu·ca·lyp·tus | \ ˌyü-kə-ˈlip-təs

plural eucalypti\ -ˌtī \ or eucalyptuses

Kids Definition of eucalyptus

: a tree mainly of Australia that is widely grown for its timber, gums, and oils

eucalyptus

noun

eu·ca·lyp·tus | \ ˌyü-kə-ˈlip-təs

Medical Definition of eucalyptus

1 capitalized : a genus of mostly Australian evergreen trees or rarely shrubs of the myrtle family that have rigid entire leaves and umbellate flowers and are widely cultivated for their gums, resins, oils, and useful woods

2 plural eucalypti\ -ˌtī

, -ˌtē

\ or eucalyptuses : any tree or shrub of the genus Eucalyptus