a cupressus-like Chilean pine, Fitzroya cupressoides, cut for timber
Word origin
Spanish: larch, from Latin larix, influenced by Arabic al-arz
alerce in American English
(əˈlersə)
noun
1.
the wood of the sandarac tree
2.
a Chilean evergreen tree, Fitzroya cupressoides, having furrowed, reddish bark and overlapping leaves
3.
an incense cedar, Austrocedrus chilensis, of Chile
Word origin
[1835–45; ‹ Sp ‹ Ar al-arz the cypress]This word is first recorded in the period 1835–45. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: catch-up, communism, crosshead, placement, squeegee
Examples of 'alerce' in a sentence
alerce
Alerce trees grow as tall as sequoias and live as long.