[Middle English acacia, acacie "astringent gum made from the juice of green plums or sloes," borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French acasie, acacie "juice of plums or sloes," borrowed from Medieval Latin acacia, going back to Latin "gum arabic"]: gum arabic
2
: any of a large genus (Acacia) of leguminous shrubs and trees of warm regions with leaves pinnate or reduced to phyllodes and white or yellow flower clusters
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebWhile oak flooring is typically $3 per square foot, solid acacia is closer to $8 per square foot. Arricca Elin Sansone, House Beautiful, 16 Aug. 2022 The tigers' habitats are shrinking because of oil palm, coffee and acacia plantations. Kelly Murray, CNN, 9 July 2022 A few days later, beneath the shade of an acacia tree, some thirty people sat in a neat arrangement of plastic chairs. Alice Gregory, The New Yorker, 18 July 2022 The wooden frame is crafted from solid acacia, with center legs underneath the base for extra support. Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 29 June 2022 Kyiv—with white acacia trees in bloom, cafés and restaurants reopening, and hundreds of thousands of people who have recently returned and seem to be relishing the fragile joy of being home—feels almost indescribably calm and safe now. Masha Gessen, The New Yorker, 14 June 2022 The row behind me let out an electric squeal, and the driver crackled over the loudspeaker, telling us to wave our acacia around outside the windows. Rowan Moore Gerety, The Atlantic, 18 May 2022 This acacia lounger has sleek Scandinavian lines, high armrests, and an all-weather cushion, plus there's a pull-out table that extends to the left or right, just big enough to keep a refreshment and entertainment on standby. Kathleen Willcox, Popular Mechanics, 16 May 2022 Handmade in the Philippines, this acacia wood vegetable platter from The Little Market — which supports artisans and their communities around the globe — is the perfect gift for socially-conscious hosts and decor devotees. Danielle Directo-meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Apr. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from New Latin, going back to Latin, "a species of Acacia, gum arabic," borrowed from Greek akakía "a plant of the Acacia genus (probably A. nilotica), acacia extract" of obscure origin