arbutus

noun

ar·​bu·​tus är-ˈbyü-təs 

1

: any of a genus (Arbutus) of shrubs and trees of the heath family with white or pink flowers and red or orange berries

2

: a creeping plant (Epigaea repens) of the heath family that occurs in eastern North America and bears fragrant pink or white flowers in early spring

Examples of arbutus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For a day trip, trek uphill through a mossy forest of arbutus trees and Douglas fir to the Manzanita Hut. —Jayme Moye, Outside Online, 4 Oct. 2024

Those ramps from Ninth Avenue pass between massive concrete planters that each hold bunch grasses and a quartet of already large arbutus trees. —John King, SFChronicle.com, 18 Nov. 2020

Common woods used included arbutus, bog oak and yew. —Brenda Yenke, cleveland, 12 Mar. 2020

As hummingbirds dart among arbutus trees, the gardenias and carissa flowering beneath a jacaranda scent the air near the door. —Emily Young, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2019

Where the rocks had spalled, the ledges were covered in moss and spiked with twisted red arbutus trees. —New York Times, 26 Jan. 2018

The flowers include red trillium, trailing arbutus and pink moccasin flower. —Grant Segall, cleveland.com, 14 May 2017

Keeping neighborhood covenants about tree height in mind, Crooks brought in mature trees like katsura, maples and arbutus for screening, planting dark-leafed smoke bushes for contrast. —Valerie Easton, The Seattle Times, 14 June 2017

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, strawberry tree

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing arbutus

• trailing arbutus

Kids Definition

arbutus

noun

ar·​bu·​tus är-ˈbyüt-əs 

: trailing arbutus

Medical Definition

Arbutus

noun

Ar·​bu·​tus är-ˈbyüt-əs 

: a genus of shrubs and trees of the heath family (Ericaceae) having white or pink flowers and scarlet berries and including some from which arbutin is obtained