Meanings
plural arborvitaes · alternative arbor vitae · alternative obsolete arborvitæ
- Any of several North American or Asian conifers, of the genera Thuja and Thujopsis or the species Platycladus orientalis, grown for timber or ornament.
She was at that moment just outside the door, and from the position of the Colonel, framed between the pillars at the other end of the piazza and against the dark green foliage of an arborvitae standing beyond.
1862, Henry Morford, Shoulder-Straps […] , Philadelphia: T.B. Peterson & Bros.Synonyms: tree of life
- anatomyThe white nerve tissue of the cerebellum that has a branching structure.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounAny of several North American or Asian conifers, of the genera Thuja and Thujopsis or the species Platycladus orientalis, grown for timber or ornament.
Origin
From Latin arbor (“tree”) + vitae (“of life”), literally “tree of life”, probably referring to the evergreen leaves. The anatomical sense from the branched, tree-like appearance of the tissue.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Czech zerav
- zeravconifer — see also thuja
German Lebensbaum
- Lebensbaumconifer — see also thuja
Polish żywotnik, tuja
- żywotnikconifer — see also thuja
- tujaconifer — see also thuja
- drzewo życiawhite nerve tissue of the cerebellum
Portuguese árvore da vida
- árvore da vidawhite nerve tissue of the cerebellum
Turkish mazı
- mazıconifer — see also thuja
Cite this entry
arborvitae. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/arborvitae
“arborvitae.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/arborvitae. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “arborvitae,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/arborvitae.
Source: arborvitae on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.