ailanthus

noun

ai·​lan·​thus ā-ˈlan(t)-thəs 

: any of a small Asian genus (Ailanthus of the family Simaroubaceae, the ailanthus family) of chiefly tropical trees and shrubs with bitter bark, pinnate leaves, and terminal panicles of ill-scented greenish flowers

especially : tree of heaven

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Kamarian (Austronesian language of the Piru Bay region, Seram) ai lanito, literally, the sky tree, or from a cognate phrase in a related central Moluccan language

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ailanthus

noun

ai·​lan·​thus ā-ˈlan(t)-thəs 

: tree of heaven

Medical Definition

ailanthus

noun

ai·​lan·​thus ā-ˈlan(t)-thəs  ī- 

1

capitalized : a small genus of chiefly tropical Asian trees and shrubs (family Simaroubaceae) with bitter bark, pinnate leaves, and terminal panicles of ill-scented greenish flowers

especially : tree of heaven

2

: a tree of the genus Ailanthus