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

Examples of eucalyptus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Hibiscus flowers, Mexican sage, eucalyptus trees, honeybee hives, and palm trees are abundant on the premises (which includes a walking trail through the 45 acres). — Michaela Bechler, Vogue, "8 of the Most Beautiful Hotel Gardens in North America," 2 Oct. 2018 Soon the villas and apartment blocks of the city's southern suburbs yield to stony, undulating fields bordered by long rows of palm, pine, and eucalyptus trees. — Richard Mcgill Murphy, Town & Country, "Desert Prep," 17 Dec. 2012 This skin protectant, which is made with oatmeal, shea butter and eucalyptus oil, literally hydrated my hands like no other. — Crystal Tate, Woman's Day, "Miracle in a Jar," 18 Feb. 2011 Low-key floral arrangements made up of aromatic eucalyptus and wild flowers felt charming in modest, amber colored glass bottles. — Alana Bunte, Harper's BAZAAR, "Farm Inspired: A Dinner by Athena Calderone," 10 Nov. 2014 Pacific Palisades honey was whiter and more crystalized, with notes of eucalyptus. — Josh Lurie, Los Angeles Magazine, "Honey Made by Bees in Different Parts of L.A. All Tastes Wonderfully Different," 25 June 2018 Add one drop of eucalyptus to a glass or ceramic bowl full of 4-6 cups of steaming (not boiling) water. — Allison Young, Good Housekeeping, "4 Genius Ways Essential Oils Can Ease Congestion And Cough Better Than Over-The-Counter Meds," 20 Oct. 2017 The Color Of The Year Centering around Rose Quartz, one of Pantone's top colors for 2016, Kat Flower features a beautiful centerpiece with French anemones, garden roses and sculptural greenery made up of rainbow eucalyptus. — Bryan Mason, ELLE Decor, "4 Floral Trends To Keep On Your Radar This Year," 11 Jan. 2016 Natural repellents made with essential oils like citronella, lemon eucalyptus, and soybean are considerably gentler than DEET (though, again, not as effective). — Megan Michelson, Outside Online, "DEET Will Kill Your Gore-Tex Jacket," 11 June 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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26 Nov 2018

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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