释义 |
guai·a·cum \ˈg(w)īəkəm\ noun Etymology: New Latin, from Spanish guayaco, guayacán, from Taino guayacan 1. a. capitalized : a genus of tropical American trees and shrubs (family Zygophyllaceae) having pinnate leaves, mostly blue flowers, and capsular fruit b. -s : the hard greenish brown wood yielded by trees of this genus (especially G. officinale) — see lignum vitae c. -s : a resin with a faint balsamic odor obtained as tears or masses from the trunk of either of two trees (G. officinale or G. sanctum) of this genus used formerly in medicine as a remedy for gout or rheumatism and now in various tests (as for peroxidases or blood stains) because of the formation of a blue color on oxidation 2. -s a. : a tree (Porlieria angustifolia) of Texas and Mexico closely related to trees of the genus Guaiacum b. : the wood of this tree c. : the resinous exudate from this wood |