Rhododendron

//ɹoʊdəˈdɛndɹən// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Oleander (Nerium oleander). obsolete
  2. 2
    any shrub of the genus Rhododendron: evergreen shrubs or small shrubby trees having leathery leaves and showy clusters of campanulate (bell-shaped) flowers wordnet
  3. 3
    Any of various flowering shrubs in the genus Rhododendron, especially
  4. 4
    Any of various flowering shrubs in the genus Rhododendron, especially; Pontic rhododendron, common rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum) UK

Etymology

The obsolete sense derives from Latin rhododendron (“oleander”), from Ancient Greek ῥοδόδενδρον (rhodódendron, “oleander”), from ῥόδον (rhódon, “rose”) + δένδρον (déndron, “tree”). The modern sense comes through the intermediary of the genus name Rhododendron, not closely related taxonomically, but with similar flowers to those of oleander.

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