linden

noun

lin·​den ˈlin-dən 

1

: any of a genus (Tilia of the family Tiliaceae, the linden family) of deciduous trees of temperate regions that have cordate leaves and a winglike bract attached to the peduncle of the flower and fruit and that are often planted as ornamental and shade trees: such as

a

: a commonly cultivated European tree (T. europaea synonym T. vulgaris) much used for ornamental planting

b

: a tree (T. americana) chiefly of the central and eastern U.S.

called also basswood

2

: the light fine-grained white wood of a linden

especially : basswood sense 2

Illustration of linden

• branch with bract and fruit

Examples of linden in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The beautiful gold tin includes 12 sachets of organic, non-caffeinated chamomile tea with hints of linden blossom, passionflower and jujube seed, that combine to make a stress-busting blend. —Sarah Rose, wsj.com, 2 Nov. 2023

Mulberry, sour cherry, black walnut, aronia, linden, black cap raspberry each have their turn to be ripe, all gleaned from parking lots, a little public landscaping, sometimes through a chain-link fence. —Hazlitt, 6 Sep. 2023

These iridescent, fingernail-sized bugs feast on roses and certain tree species like birch and linden. —Brett Martin, Popular Mechanics, 21 July 2023

Adult beetles feed on about 300 different species of ornamental plants, but especially favor roses, grapevines, and crabapple, cherry and linden trees. —Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2023

Berlin has its lindens, California its giant redwoods—and Washington, D.C., its cherry trees. —Dominique Browning, WSJ, 30 Mar. 2023

His first inspiration was linden blossoms. —Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2023

Trees such as sycamores and lindens that grow large and sprout readily after pruning work best. —Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2023

Though this installation of tintinnabulation has been a feature of the garden for more than a decade, some frequent visitors only noticed the chimes this summer, when a small crew recently installed them in a large linden tree adjacent to Parade Stadium. —Kim Hyatt, Star Tribune, 23 July 2021

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English, made of linden wood, from Old English, from lind linden tree; probably akin to Old English līthe gentle — more at lithe

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

linden

noun

lin·​den ˈlin-dən 

1

: any of a genus of trees with large heart-shaped leaves and drooping clusters of yellowish flowers that are often planted as ornamental or shade trees

2

: the light white wood of a linden

Geographical Definition

Linden

geographical name

Lin·​den ˈlin-dən 

city in northeastern New Jersey south-southwest of Elizabeth population 40,499