spindle tree

spindle tree

n.

See euonymus.

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[So called because the wood is often used to make spindles.]

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spindle tree

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) any of various shrubs or trees of the genus Euonymus, esp E. europaeus, of Europe and W Asia, typically having red fruits and yielding a hard wood formerly used in making spindles: family Celastraceae

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

spindle tree - any shrubby trees or woody vines of the genus Euonymus having showy usually reddish berries spindleberry, spindleberry tree Euonymus, genus Euonymus - widely distributed chiefly evergreen shrubs or small trees or vines common spindle tree, Euonymus europaeus - small erect deciduous shrub having tough white wood and cathartic bark and fruit Euonymous alatus, winged spindle tree - bushy deciduous shrub with branches having thin wide corky longitudinal wings; brilliant red in autumn; northeastern Asia to central China bush, shrub - a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems