wild cinnamon

7.8

A tree or shrub with fragrant bark and leaves used to make scented oils

noun

: canela silvestre

The leaves of the wild cinnamon are distilled to produce the famous bay rum fragrance.

Examples

In the Caribbean, wild cinnamon is prized for its aromatic oils.
The wild cinnamon tree grows in tropical regions.
He planted a wild cinnamon tree in his garden for its fragrant leaves.
I love the scent of wild cinnamon in the air.
He planted a wild cinnamon tree in his garden for its fragrant leaves.
In the Caribbean, wild cinnamon is prized for its aromatic oils.
The leaves of the wild cinnamon are distilled to produce the famous bay rum fragrance.

Synonyms

Canella winterana

vswild cinnamon

Specialized

9.9

A small evergreen tree from the West Indies with white scented bark used as a spice

is the same plant but noted for fragrant leaves and scent use

Canella-alba

vswild cinnamon

Specialized

9.9

A large evergreen shrub or small tree with white scented bark and purple-red flowers

refers more to scent and practical use rather than botanical flower detail

white cinnamon tree

vswild cinnamon

Specialized

9.9

A large evergreen shrub or small tree with white fragrant bark and small purple to red flowers

focuses more on fragrance and scent uses than on size or flower color

Surface Forms

wild cinnamon singular

wild cinnamons plural

Morphology

wild + cinnamon

This is a straightforward adjective + noun combination: 'wild' (growing naturally) modifying 'cinnamon' (the tree/spice). A B1 learner who knows both words can readily infer it refers to cinnamon that grows wild or a wild variety, so the meaning is compositionally transparent.

Etymology

Wild cinnamon comes from a tree or shrub that grows in the wild and has leaves or bark that smell like the spice cinnamon. Because people used its fragrant leaves or bark to make perfumes and 'bay rum', the name wild cinnamon now means that plant used for its scent.