sandalwood

noun

san·​dal·​wood ˈsan-dᵊl-ˌwu̇d 

1

: the compact close-grained fragrant yellowish heartwood of a parasitic tree (Santalum album of the family Santalaceae, the sandalwood family) of southern Asia much used in ornamental carving and cabinetwork

also : the tree that yields this wood

2

: any of various trees other than the sandalwood some of which yield dyewoods

also : the fragrant wood of such a tree

Examples of sandalwood in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lake & Skye Echo Lake Candle $48 $38 Nordstrom Unlock 50 hours of bergamot, sandalwood, and juniper with Lake and Skye's Echo Lake Candle. —Annie Blackman, Allure, 2 Dec. 2024

Designed to mimic the smell of a vintage Hermès suede jacket, this candle from Nette exudes notes of cardamom, violet leaf, sandalwood, and amber. —Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 2 Dec. 2024

And the scent, a blend of sandalwood, cardamom, and tangelo, is practically tailor-made for the holidays. —Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 29 Nov. 2024

Cassis, one of their most popular fragrances, is an original fragrant scent that contains plum and coconut top notes, fig heart notes, and sandalwood and cedarwood base notes. —Laia Farran Graves, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

sandal sandalwood (from Middle English, from Anglo-French sandali, from Medieval Latin sandalum, from Late Greek santalon, ultimately from Sanskrit candana, of Dravidian origin; akin to Tamil cāntu sandalwood tree) + wood entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1511, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sandalwood

• sandalwood oil

Kids Definition

sandalwood

noun

san·​dal·​wood -ˌwu̇d 

: the close-grained fragrant yellowish wood of an Asian tree often used in carving and cabinetwork

also : the tree that yields this wood