white alder

noun

1

a

: any of several native alders (as Alnus rhombifolia) of western North America

b

: gray alder

2

: any shrub or tree of the genus Clethra

3

: a southern African tree (Platylophus trifoliatus) of the family Cunoniaceae

4

: privet andromeda

5

: a winterberry (Ilex verticillata)

Word History

First Known Use

1746, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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