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eucalyptus

noun eu·ca·lyp·tus \ ˌyü-kə-ˈlip-təs \
|Updated on: 6 Aug 2018

Definition of eucalyptus

plural eucalypti play \ˌyü-kə-ˈlip-ˌtī, -ˌtē\ or eucalyptuses
: 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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See eucalyptus defined for kids

Recent Examples of eucalyptus from the Web

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Origin and Etymology of 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.

EUCALYPTUS Defined for English Language Learners

eucalyptus

noun

Definition of eucalyptus for English Language Learners

  • : 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

EUCALYPTUS Defined for Kids

eucalyptus

noun eu·ca·lyp·tus \ ˌyü-kə-ˈlip-təs \

Definition of eucalyptus for Students

plural eucalypti \-ˌtī\ or eucalyptuses
: a tree mainly of Australia that is widely grown for its timber, gums, and oils

Medical Dictionary

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 play \-ˌtī, -ˌtē\ or eucalyptuses : any tree or shrub of the genus Eucalyptus
—

eucalyptus

adjective

Learn More about eucalyptus

  1. Spanish Central: Translation of eucalyptus Nglish: Translation of eucalyptus for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about eucalyptus

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eucalyptus

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