acacia

/əˈkeɪʃə/

/əˈkeɪʃə/

Other forms: acacias

An acacia is a kind of tree or bush that grows in very warm climates. If you visit Australia, you're likely to see an acacia.

Acacias are found in places like South America, Africa, and parts of Asia, though the majority of acacias grow in Australia. Many acacias have tiny leaves and are covered in thorns, although there are varieties that aren't thorny — still, the name itself comes from the Greek word akakia, "thorny Egyptian tree," probably rooted in ake, or "thorn."

Definitions of acacia

1. noun

   any of various spiny trees or shrubs of the genus Acacia
   types:

   shittah, shittah tree

   source of a wood mentioned frequently in the Bible; probably a species of genus Acacia

   wattle

   any of various Australasian trees yielding slender poles suitable for wattle

   Acacia catechu, Jerusalem thorn, catechu

   East Indian spiny tree having twice-pinnate leaves and yellow flowers followed by flat pods; source of black catechu

   Acacia farnesiana, cassie, flame tree, huisache, mimosa bush, scented wattle, sweet acacia, sweet wattle

   tropical American thorny shrub or small tree; fragrant yellow flowers used in making perfumery

   Acacia xanthophloea, fever tree

   African tree supposed to mark healthful regions

   Acacia auriculiformis, black wattle

   Australian tree that yields tanning materials

   Acacia cambegei, gidgee, stinking wattle

   scrubby Australian acacia having extremely foul-smelling blossoms

   Acacia dealbata, mimosa, silver wattle

   evergreen Australasian tree having white or silvery bark and young leaves and yellow flowers

   Acacia pycnantha, golden wattle

   shrubby Australian tree having clusters of fragrant golden yellow flowers; widely cultivated as an ornamental

   type of:

   tree

   a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms