Agathis

noun

Ag·​a·​this

ˈa-gə-thəs

: a small genus of evergreen trees (family Araucariaceae) chiefly of Australasia and the Philippines that are distinguished from members of the genus Araucaria by having larger leaves with flat stalks and the seed free from the cone scale and are valued for their wood and fragrant resins

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, borrowed from Greek agathís "ball of thread"; so named from the globe-shaped seed cones

First Known Use

1821, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!