gum·bo-lim·bo

(gŭm′bō-lĭm′bō)

n. pl. gum·bo-lim·bos

An aromatic, resinous, tropical American tree (Bursera simaruba) having compound leaves and small white flowers, often planted as an ornamental.

[Perhaps gumbo + limbo (possibly of Bantu origin; akin to Kongo -dimbo, birdlime).]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

gum′bo-lim′bo

n., pl. -lim•bos.

a tropical American tree, Bursera simaruba, of the bursera family, yielding an aromatic resin used in varnishes.

[1830–40, Amer.; of uncertain orig.]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

gumbo-limbo - tropical American tree yielding a reddish resin used in cements and varnishes

Bursera simaruba

incense tree - any of various tropical trees of the family Burseraceae yielding fragrant gums or resins that are burned as incense

Bursera, genus Bursera - type genus of Burseraceae; tropical and subtropical American shrubs and trees some yielding timber and gum elemi

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References in periodicals archive

The bone hook had snagged a fish with the head of red-eyed iguana and gumbo-limbo warts everywhere.

Cracker

virginiana); sabal palm, Sabalpalmetto (Walt.) (Arecaceae); pindo palm, Butia capitata (Mart.) (Arecaceae); gumbo-limbo, Bursera simaruba (L.) (Burseraceae); royal Poinciana, Delonix regia (Boj.) (Fabaceae); Australian umbrella (Schefflera actinophylla), glaucous cassia, Senna surattensis (Burm.) (Fabaceae), and other plants that were not identified in this study.

Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann) (Blattodea [Isoptera]: Rhinotermitidae), a threat to the southeastern Florida urban tree canopy

The area where it was collected was a tropical deciduous forest dominated by custard apple trees Annona globiflora, gumbo-limbo trees Bursera simaruba, and guazima trees Guazuma ulmifolia.

Specimens of the collared anteater (Tamandua mexicana) from Tamaulipas, Mexico

Today this site is a 25-acre park with 3,000 feet of shoreline and plenty of natural beauty--check out the sinuously sculptural gumbo-limbo trees.

Attractions: what to see and do at the region's top natural and cultural venues

Gumbo-Limbo (237 points): Also called "tourist trees," because they stand in the sun, turn red, and peel, the champion is located in De Soto National Memorial Park just north in Bradenton, Florida.

Go see a champion: take a road trip to seek out the biggest trees in the nation!

The gumbo-limbo, also known as West Indian birch, tends to be drought tolerant.

How vegetation responds to climate extremes

Pearl drove around and parked by the gumbo-limbo stumps.

Practical gifts

In Biscayne National Park just off the coast of Southern Florida lies Elliott Key, a seven-mile long tangle of sea grape, West Indian mahogany, and gumbo-limbo. Practically deserted, the island is inhabited by several species of birds and rodents, a gang of curious raccoons, and an occasional park ranger.

Preserving the peace and quiet; the dull roar of progress and its machines is overwhelming the ambient sounds of nature in the parks and harming wildlife in the process. The Park Service and environmental groups are working to restore the soundscape, as important to an ecosystem--and our own well-being--as clean air and water

"It is made from pure gumbo-limbo bark from a Belizian tree and mixed with aloe vera, vitamin E, and some cortisone.

From Pharmacy to Integrative Medicine

The green parts of gumbo-limbo bark use sunlight to make food, just as leaves do.

Bark: nature's "tree-shirts."

In South Florida, gardeners could start by planting a geiger tree (hummingbirds like its orange flowers) or a gumbo-limbo (its fruit appeals to vireos).

For an all-American yard, go native