Noun: lignum vitae 'lig-num 'vI-tee
- Small evergreen tree of Caribbean and southern Central America to northern South America; a source of lignum vitae wood, hardest of commercial timbers, and a medicinal resin
"The lignum vitae's dense wood was traditionally used for ship propeller bearings";
- Guaiacum officinale
- Hard greenish-brown wood of the lignum vitae tree and other trees of the genus Guaiacum
"lignum vitae wood is prized for its strength and durability";
- guaiac, guaiacum
Type of: angiospermous tree, flowering tree, wood
Part of: genus Guaiacum, Guaiacum
Encyclopedia: Lignum vitae