liriodendron tulipifera

4 definitions found

liriodendron tulipifera - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Liriodendron \Lir`i*o*den"dron\
     (l[i^]r`[i^]*[-o]*d[e^]n"dr[o^]n), n.; pl. Liriodendra
     (-dr[.a]). [NL., fr. Gr. lei`rion lily + de`ndron tree.]
     (Bot.)
     A genus of large and very beautiful trees of North America,
     having smooth, shining leaves, and handsome, tuliplike
     flowers; tulip tree; whitewood; -- called also canoewood.
     Liriodendron tulipifera is the only extant species, but
     there were several others in the Cretaceous epoch.
     [1913 Webster]

  Tulip \Tu"lip\ (t[=u]"l[i^]p), n. [F. tulipe, OF. also tulipan,
     It. tulipano, tulipa, from Turk. tulbend, dulbend, literally,
     a turban, Per. dulband; -- so called from the resemblance of
     the form of this flower to a turban. See Turban.] (Bot.)
     Any plant of the liliaceous genus Tulipa. Many varieties
     are cultivated for their beautiful, often variegated flowers.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Tulip tree.
     (a) A large American tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) of the
         magnolia family (Magnoliaceae) bearing tuliplike
         flowers. See Liriodendron.
     (b) A West Indian malvaceous tree (Paritium tiliaceum syn.
         Hibiscus tiliaceum).
         [1913 Webster + PJC]

  Whitewood \White"wood`\, n.
     The soft and easily-worked wood of the tulip tree
     (Liriodendron tulipifera). It is much used in cabinetwork,
     carriage building, etc.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Several other kinds of light-colored wood are called
           whitewood in various countries, as the wood of
           Bignonia leucoxylon in the West Indies, of
           Pittosporum bicolor in Tasmania, etc.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     Whitewood bark. See the Note under Canella.
        [1913 Webster]

liriodendron tulipifera - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  Liriodendron tulipifera
      n 1: tall North American deciduous timber tree having large
           tulip-shaped greenish yellow flowers and conelike fruit;
           yields soft white woods used especially for cabinet work
           [syn: tulip tree, tulip poplar, yellow poplar,
           canary whitewood, Liriodendron tulipifera]