strangler fig
noun
: any of several figs (such as Ficus aurea of the southeastern U.S.) that start as epiphytes but send down roots to the ground around the host tree
broadly
: any of various epiphytic vines or trees (such as Clusia rosea synonym C. major) of similar habit
Examples of strangler fig in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The colonial buildings in honeydew and cantaloupe colors — surrounded by banyan trees, strangler figs, and jacaranda and set off by the bright primaries and pastels of the clothes of passersby — make for a delicious street scene.
—
Chris Wallace, Travel + Leisure, 24 Mar. 2024
The duo envisioned building a treehouse between an oak and a strangler fig tree in the front yard.
—Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2023
For something more strenuous, Mo’orea’s Mount Tohivea offers a challenging hike shaded by a canopy of buttress trees and strangler figs.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 7 Aug. 2023
Advertisement Banyan trees, which give the house its name, are also called strangler figs.
—Rhoda Feng, Washington Post, 4 July 2023
The climb is steep and my pace is slow, but Peter and Alais, a ranger who accompanies us, talk about Maasai life and point out pretty but poisonous berries, shy blue monkeys, and the strangler fig trees that the Maasai revere.
—Saumya Ancheri, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Apr. 2022
Others, such as the strangler fig, are innately parasitic.
—Rebecca Giggs, The Atlantic, 17 June 2021
But the area is also home to towering strangler fig trees whose hollow trunks, composed of roots and limbs, are perfect for an utterly unique climbing experience.
—Outside Online, 23 Sep. 2019
The beach stretches away for a mile and a half on either side of me; behind me are a few private houses set among strangler figs and mango trees.
—Francesca Gavin, Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2016
Chris Wallace, Travel + Leisure, 24 Mar. 2024
The duo envisioned building a treehouse between an oak and a strangler fig tree in the front yard.
—Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2023
For something more strenuous, Mo’orea’s Mount Tohivea offers a challenging hike shaded by a canopy of buttress trees and strangler figs.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 7 Aug. 2023
Advertisement Banyan trees, which give the house its name, are also called strangler figs.
—Rhoda Feng, Washington Post, 4 July 2023
The climb is steep and my pace is slow, but Peter and Alais, a ranger who accompanies us, talk about Maasai life and point out pretty but poisonous berries, shy blue monkeys, and the strangler fig trees that the Maasai revere.
—Saumya Ancheri, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Apr. 2022
Others, such as the strangler fig, are innately parasitic.
—Rebecca Giggs, The Atlantic, 17 June 2021
But the area is also home to towering strangler fig trees whose hollow trunks, composed of roots and limbs, are perfect for an utterly unique climbing experience.
—Outside Online, 23 Sep. 2019
The beach stretches away for a mile and a half on either side of me; behind me are a few private houses set among strangler figs and mango trees.
—Francesca Gavin, Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2016
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'strangler fig.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Strangler fig.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strangler%20fig. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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