acacia

noun

aca·​cia ə-ˈkā-shə 

1

: 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

Examples of acacia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Nordstrom Wood & Marble Serving Board Courtesy of brand 11/30 Nordstrom Wood & Marble Serving Board $49 Nordstrom A cheese board or charcuterie would look right at home on this acacia wood and marble piece. —Lindy Segal, Glamour, 20 Sep. 2024

At present, those trees include olive, eucalyptus, fig, magnolia, silk floss, flame, peach, flowering cherry, purple acacia, pomegranate, orange, lemon, persimmon, avocado, and plum. —Mayer Rus, Architectural Digest, 6 Sep. 2024

Red Barrel Studio Acacia Outdoor Loveseat Made with durable acacia wood and neutral, comfy cushions, this popular loveseat comes highly recommended for outdoor patios and other petite exterior spaces. —Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 14 Aug. 2024

The sandstone cliffs bordering our waterways are a whopping 350 million years old and topped by flat plateaus dotted with acacia trees. —Janice Wald Henderson, Travel + Leisure, 12 Aug. 2024

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; (sense 1) 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"

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

acacia

noun

aca·​cia ə-ˈkā-shə 

1

: gum arabic

2

: any of numerous shrubs and trees of the legume family that grow in warm areas and have white or yellow flower clusters

Medical Definition

acacia

noun

aca·​cia ə-ˈkā-shə 

1

capitalized : a genus of woody leguminous plants of warm regions having pinnate leaves and white or yellow flower clusters see catechu

2

: any of the genus Acacia of leguminous plants

3

: gum arabic