rosewood

noun rose·wood \ ˈrōz-ˌwu̇d \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of rosewood

: any of various tropical trees (especially genus Dalbergia) yielding valuable cabinet woods of a usually dark red or purplish color streaked and variegated with black; also : the wood

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Recent Examples of rosewood from the Web

Taylor has rolled out several models without rosewood for overseas customers.

— michael casey, USA TODAY, "US guitar makers hit hard by new international logging regulations on prized rosewood," 12 Apr. 2018
Taylor has rolled out several models without rosewood for overseas customers.

— Washington Post, "Guitar makers hit hard by new regulations on prized rosewood," 12 Apr. 2018
Sotheby’s France still holds the record: A rosewood edition sold for nearly $63,000 in 2011.

— natalia rachlin, WSJ, "An Iconic Danish Designer Will Relaunch Furniture Pieces," 2 Apr. 2018
In the furniture department, a rosewood dining room table and chair went for $1,000.

— leah garchik, San Francisco Chronicle, "Children explore how vegetable superpowers can help the homeless," 27 Mar. 2018
Our favorite Lush bomb is this Avobath one, made from mashed avocados and oils of olive, bergamot, lemongrass, rosewood, and more.

— adam hurly, GQ, "The Best Luxe Bath Products That Put Showers to Shame," 12 Dec. 2017
Used to make furniture, rosewood is favored for its darkly rich hues, density, and fine grain.

— National Geographic, "Dried Seahorses Seized—All Eight Million," 3 July 2016
George Gruhn, a Nashville guitar salesman, says his industry has been paralyzed by regulations on rosewood, a crucial raw material.

— daniel a. gross, USA TODAY, "How Germany's 'wood detectives' are protecting endangered species," 2 Nov. 2017
In the dining room, the 19th-century furnishings include a French table of walnut and rosewood, a set of Flemish dining chairs and a gilded-bronze chandelier; the walls are clad in antiqued mirrors hand-painted in a floral design.

— dana thomas, ELLE Decor, "House Tour: A Paris Home Brimming With Architectural Gems," 16 May 2017

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

First Known Use of rosewood

1660

in the meaning defined above

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ROSEWOOD Defined for English Language Learners

rosewood

noun

Definition of rosewood for English Language Learners

: the hard, dark, red wood of some tropical trees that is used especially for making furniture and musical instruments

ROSEWOOD Defined for Kids

rosewood

noun rose·wood \ ˈrōz-ˌwu̇d \

Definition of rosewood for Students

: a reddish or purplish wood streaked with black that is used especially for making furniture and musical instruments

Learn More about rosewood

See words that rhyme with rosewood Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rosewood

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