sandalwood

[ san-dl-wood ]

noun

1. the fragrant heartwood of any of certain Asian trees of the genus Santalum, used for ornamental carving and burned as incense.
2. any of these trees, especially S. album white sandalwood, an evergreen of India, having ovate leaves and yellowish flowers that turn red.
3. any of various related or similar trees or their woods, wood, especially an East Indian tree, Pterocarpus santalinus red sandalwood, of the legume family, or its heavy dark-red wood that yields a dye.

sandalwood

/ ˈsændəlˌwʊd /

noun

1. any of several evergreen hemiparasitic trees of the genus Santalum, esp S. album ( white sandalwood ), of S Asia and Australia, having hard light-coloured heartwood: family Santalaceae
2. the wood of any of these trees, which is used for carving, is burned as incense, and yields an aromatic oil used in perfumery
3. any of various similar trees or their wood, esp Pterocarpus santalinus ( red sandalwood ), a leguminous tree of SE Asia having dark red wood used as a dye

Word History and Origins

Origin of sandalwood¹

First recorded in 1505–15; sandal ² + wood ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of sandalwood¹

C14 sandal, from Medieval Latin sandalum, from Late Greek sandanon, from Sanskrit candana sandalwood

Example Sentences

Few parents would describe the smells emanating from their adolescent children as redolent of sandalwood.

From New York Times

But decades of bamboo extraction from areas that the elephants relied on for sustenance have destroyed their food source, he says, adding that the government's push for monoculture plantations such as teak, sandalwood, mahogany, acacia and eucalyptus has also affected the movement of wild animals.

From BBC

When the Americans started trading with China in the late 18th century, they started with furs and later sandalwood, but soon they just couldn’t find enough stuff to sell to China.

From Los Angeles Times

“We had rolls of the finest silks, threaded in the shiniest of golds and purples and scarlets. Reams of the softest cottons. The brightest ceramics from the world’s best potteries. Great pots of pepper and saffron and cinnamon. And the smells! If only you could know. The fragrance of amber, sandalwood, frankincense, cedar. The fluffiest wool rugs, the sparkliest of emeralds, lapis lazuli, jade...”

From Literature

Ms Pitt was found by police at Sandalwood Court at about 11:30 on 12 May.

From BBC