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Glite Dictionary
🧴 Aromatic resin 🌳 A sweet gum tree
liquidambar

liquidambar

9.9
A tree with star-shaped leaves and spiky fruit balls that turn red in autumn
  • noun
  • /ˌlɪkwɪˈdæmbər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : liquidámbar
  • The seeds of the liquidambar are contained within distinctive spiky fruit balls.

Examples

  • The leaves of the liquidambar turn brilliant red and orange in the autumn.

  • A mature liquidambar can reach up to 40 meters in height.

  • The liquidambar tree is known for its beautiful fall colors.

  • Many gardeners love the liquidambar for its unique shape.

  • The liquidambar tree, known for its star-shaped leaves, thrives in warm climates.

  • In the autumn, the liquidambar showcases stunning red and yellow foliage.

  • The gardener selected a liquidambar for its unique spiky fruits and beautiful leaves.

Synonyms

sweet gum tree
vsliquidambar
  • US
1 6.0

A North American tree with spiky round seed balls and sweet-smelling sap and red leaves in autumn

is the broader genus name highlighting star-shaped leaves and spiky fruits
Liquidambar styraciflua
vsliquidambar
  • Specialized
9.9

A North American tree with star-shaped leaves and spiky round fruit

is the general genus term focusing on star-shaped leaves and spiky fruits
red gum
vsliquidambar
  • US
8.9

A North American tree with spiky round fruits and scented sap

is the genus term that stresses star-shaped leaves rather than sap scent

Compounds

Liquidambar styraciflua
  • Specialized
9.9

A North American tree with star-shaped leaves and spiky round fruit

Surface Forms

liquidambar singular
liquidambars plural

Morphology

liquidambar = liquid + amber (semi-transparent) = liquid + ambar

The tree name literally points to a tree associated with a resin ('liquid amber'), but as a botanical name it is a Latinized compound and functions as a proper noun, so the meaning is partly inferable but also technical.

Etymology

Liquidambar for the tree also comes from the Latin parts liquidus ('liquid') and ambar ('amber'), meaning 'liquid amber'. This is because the tree makes a sticky, amber-like sap, so the tree and its resin share the same name.