ailanthus

A1I1L1A1N1T1H4U1S1
/ˌeɪˈlænθəs/

noun

Any of several deciduous Asiatic trees of the genus Ailanthus, including the tree of heaven.

Similar
Chinese sumaccopal treeparadise treestinking sumactree of heavenvarnish tree
OriginNew Latin Ailanthus ← abs ai lanto →
RareScrabble 12
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Meanings

nounailanthus (plural ailanthuses)

plural ailanthuses · alternative ailantus

  1. Any of several deciduous Asiatic trees of the genus Ailanthus, including the tree of heaven.

    The thick, furry twigs of ailanthus suckers leave her fingers stinking of coffee and peanut butter.

    2018, Richard Powers, The Overstory, Vintage (2019), page 173
    1. In particular, Ailanthus altissima.

      Synonyms: Chinese sumac, copal tree, paradise tree, stinking sumac, tree of heaven, varnish tree

Synonyms & antonyms

nounIn particular, Ailanthus altissima.

Similar
Chinese sumaccopal treeparadise treestinking sumactree of heavenvarnish tree
Also see
tree of heaven

Origin

  1. absai lanto“tree (of) heaven”
  2. New LatinAilanthus
  3. Englishailanthus

From New Latin Ailanthus, from Ambonese Malay ai lanto (“tree (of) heaven”).

More words from New Latin, abs

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan ailant
  • ailantdeciduous Asiatic tree of the genus Ailanthus
Esperanto ailanto
  • ailantodeciduous Asiatic tree of the genus Ailanthus
Finnish jumaltenpuu
  • jumaltenpuudeciduous Asiatic tree of the genus Ailanthus
German Götterbaum
  • Götterbaumdeciduous Asiatic tree of the genus Ailanthus
Greek αΐλανθος, αείλανθος
  • αΐλανθος (aḯlanthos)deciduous Asiatic tree of the genus Ailanthus
  • αείλανθος (aeílanthos)deciduous Asiatic tree of the genus Ailanthus
Italian ailanto
  • ailantodeciduous Asiatic tree of the genus Ailanthus
Portuguese ailanto
  • ailantodeciduous Asiatic tree of the genus Ailanthus
Russian айлант
  • айлант (ajlant)deciduous Asiatic tree of the genus Ailanthus
Spanish ailanto
  • ailantodeciduous Asiatic tree of the genus Ailanthus
Vietnamese thanh thất
  • thanh thấtdeciduous Asiatic tree of the genus Ailanthus
Cite this entry
APA

ailanthus. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ailanthus

MLA

“ailanthus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ailanthus. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ailanthus,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ailanthus.

Source: ailanthus on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.