rosewood

noun

rose·​wood ˈrōz-ˌwu̇d 

: 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

Examples of rosewood in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At first spray, Dune starts off strong with crisp Brazilian rosewood, soapy aldehydes, and citrus bled of Madarin orange and bergamot. —Rebecca Norris, InStyle, 11 Apr. 2026

The bowl of the mandolin is created with twenty-five or more hand-cut strips of maple or rosewood, each heated, bent, then glued around an inner shell. —Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2026

For the Beolab 90 Monarch, Bang & Olufsen looked to Danish furniture for inspiration, using rosewood lamella to mimic movement across the front of the cabinet. —Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2026

Pottery Barn’s bestselling curtains are on sale right now in select colors like flagstone, rosewood, blush, and adobe. —Jamie Fischer, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1660, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rosewood

• adulthood
• babyhood
• brotherhood
• cottonwood
• fatherhood
• firewood
• fuelwood
• hardihood
• ironwood
• leatherwood
• likelihood
• livelihood

Kids Definition

rosewood

noun

rose·​wood ˈrōz-ˌwu̇d 

1

: any of various tropical trees with hard dark red to purplish wood that is streaked with black and is used especially for making furniture and musical instruments

2

: the wood of a rosewood