Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Liriodendron tulipifera

Liriodendron tulipifera

9.9
A tall North American tree with tulip-shaped yellow-green flowers and soft white wood used for furniture
  • noun
  • /ˌlɪr.i.oʊˈdɛn.drən ˌtuː.lɪˈpɪf.ər.ə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Liriodendro tulipifera
  • Carpenters prize the wood of Liriodendron tulipifera for its softness and ease of use in furniture making.

Examples

  • The Liriodendron tulipifera is often admired for its striking, tulip-shaped flowers in spring.

  • A mature Liriodendron tulipifera can reach impressive heights, dominating the eastern North American forests.

  • Look at the stunning flowers of the Liriodendron tulipifera!

  • The Liriodendron tulipifera is known for its beautiful flowers.

  • The soft white wood of Liriodendron tulipifera is highly sought after by cabinet makers.

  • In spring, the large tulip-shaped flowers of the Liriodendron tulipifera attract many visitors to the gardens.

  • The Liriodendron tulipifera, also known as the tulip tree, is a common sight in eastern North American woodlands.

Synonyms

tulip tree
vsLiriodendron tulipifera
  • US
1 5.2

A tall North American tree that has large yellow and green tulip-shaped flowers and soft pale wood for furniture

is the formal scientific label for the same species rather than a common name
tulip poplar
vsLiriodendron tulipifera
  • US
1 6.6

A tall North American tree with tulip-shaped yellow-green flowers and soft white wood used for furniture

is the scientific term for the same species rather than the common label
yellow poplar
vsLiriodendron tulipifera
  • US
6.5

A tall tree from North America that loses its leaves and has greenish-yellow tulip-shaped flowers

is the official species name while the linked form is a common alias
canary whitewood
vsLiriodendron tulipifera
  • US
9.9

A tall North American tree with tulip-shaped yellow flowers and soft white wood used for cabinets

is the scientific label while the linked form is a regional or trade common name

Surface Forms

Liriodendron tulipifera singular
Liriodendron tulipiferas plural

Morphology

Liriodendron + tulipifera

This is a Latin scientific name (a binomial) rather than a normal English phrase; 'tulipifera' is not an English lexical item and its Latin morphology (’tulip-bearing’) is unlikely to be known by a B1 learner. Even though the genus part hints at a tulip-like tree, the full species name requires botanical or Latin knowledge, so the meaning is not derivable from the provided constituents.

Etymology

The name Liriodendron tulipifera may come from old words where Liriodendron means 'lily tree' and tulipifera means 'tulip-bearing'. People gave this name because the tree has flowers that look like tulips, so it is easy to remember as the tall 'tulip tree' with soft wood used for furniture.