lignum vitae

noun

lig·​num vi·​tae ˌlig-nəm-ˈvī-tē 

plural lignum vitaes

1

: the very hard heavy wood of any of several tropical American guaiacums

2

: a tree yielding lignum vitae

Examples of lignum vitae in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Many were carved from lignum vitae, one of the world’s hardest woods. — Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, literally, wood of life

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lignum vitae

• vita

Medical Definition

lignum vitae

noun

lig·​num vi·​tae ˌlig-nəm-ˈvīt-ē 

plural lignum vitaes

1

: any of several tropical American trees of the genus Guaiacum with very hard heavy wood

especially : either of two (G. officinale or G. sanctum) that are sources of guaiacum resin

2

: the wood of a lignum vitae