arboreal

[ ahr-bawr-ee-uhl, -bohr- ]

adjective

1. of or relating to trees; treelike.
2. Also . living in or among trees.
3. Zoology. adapted for living and moving about in trees, as the limbs and skeleton of opossums, squirrels, monkeys, and apes.

arboreal

/ ɑːˈbɔːrɪəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling a tree
2. living in or among trees

   arboreal monkeys

arboreal

/ är-bôr′ē-əl /

1. Relating to or living in trees.

Other Words From

• ar·bore·al·ly adverb
• subar·bore·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of arboreal¹

First recorded in 1660–70; from Latin arbore(us) “of trees,” equivalent to arbor “tree” + -eus- -eous + -al ¹

Example Sentences

There are lots of unanswered questions, Boroditsky said, and the clearance has created so much uproar that the city plans to bring in an independent third-party “arboreal expert” to do their own evaluation.

From Los Angeles Times

As the researchers note, arboreal howlers are extremely slow-moving primates who are very careful about the way they exert their energy.

From Salon

Middle Ages England was squirrel crazy: People kept the arboreal rodents as pets and used their furs to line and trim clothing.

From Science Magazine

Middle and high school students from Bush School and The Seattle Academy painted two vibrant, arboreal scenes on the vandalized temple wall in December.

From Seattle Times

To tree farmer Terry Lamers, the coast redwood with its beautiful “straight as an arrow” form and small limbs is nothing short of an arboreal cash cow.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• arborescent
• arborous