liquidambar

American  

[lik-wid-am-ber, lik-wid-am-] / ˈlɪk wɪdˌæm bər, ˌlɪk wɪdˈæm- /

noun

1. any tree of the genus Liquidambar, including the sweet gum.

2. the fragrant, yellowish, balsamic liquid exuded by this tree, used in medicine.

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liquidambar British  

/ ˌlɪkwɪdˈæmbə /

noun

1. any deciduous tree of the hamamelidaceous genus Liquidambar, of Asia and North and Central America, with star-shaped leaves, and exuding a yellow aromatic balsam See also sweet gum

2. the balsam of this tree, used in medicine See also storax

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Etymology

Origin of liquidambar

1590–1600; < New Latin: genus name. See liquid, amber

Example Sentences

In Melbourne, corellas have made a home in suburbs with large numbers of liquidambar trees, whose seeds they particularly like.

From New York Times • Jun. 10, 2022

Excellent timber of various kinds—eagle-wood, rose-wood, liquidambar, &c.—is one of the principal products of the island, and has even been specially transported to Peking for imperial purposes.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 7 "Gyantse" to "Hallel" by Various

The liquidambar, as well as several poplars and willows, cannot be distinguished from those of Oeningen; the same is true of an Elm, a Carpinus, and others.

From Louis Agassiz: His Life and Correspondence by Agassiz, Louis

Be this as it may, there are times when I sincerely long for a ball of liquidambar or a mouthful of pungent spring buds.

From Lippincott's Magazine, August, 1885 by Various

We have a sequoia identical with one of the species found at Œninghen, a chestnut, salisburia, liquidambar, sassafras, and even a magnolia.

From Island Life Or the Phenomena and Causes of Insular Faunas and Floras by Wallace, Alfred Russel