arborvitae
|ar-bor-vi-tae|
🇺🇸
/ˌɑɹbɚˈviːti/
🇬🇧
/ˌɑːbə(r)ˈviːti/
tree of life / evergreen tree
Etymology
'arborvitae' originates from Latin, specifically the phrase 'arbor vitae', where 'arbor' meant 'tree' and 'vitae' meant 'of life'.
'arbor vita(e)' as a Latin phrase passed into New Latin and botanical usage as 'arborvitae' and was adopted into English as the common name for certain evergreen trees (notably Thuja species).
Initially it meant 'tree of life' in a literal or symbolic sense; over time it evolved into a common name for specific evergreen trees (Thuja), losing much of the original symbolic meaning.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
any of several coniferous trees of the cypress family, especially of the genus Thuja; often used for evergreen shrubs or hedges.
The arborvitae along the property line provide year-round privacy.
Synonyms
Noun 2
specifically, the species Thuja occidentalis, commonly called the American arborvitae or northern white-cedar.
Homeowners often plant Thuja occidentalis, commonly called arborvitae, as a windbreak.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/03 09:44