Dictionary.com



arbor vitae

arbor vitae


ar·bor·vi·tae also ar·bor vi·tae     (är'bər-vī'tē)   

n.  

    1. Any of several North American or eastern Asian evergreen trees or shrubs of the genus Thuja, having flattened branchlets with opposite, scalelike leaves and small cones. They are grown as ornamentals and for timber.

    2. Any similar plant of the genus Platycladus or Thujopsis. Also called thuja.

  2. Anatomy The white nerve tissue of the cerebellum, which has a treelike outline in a median section.


[From New Latin arbor vītae, tree of life : Latin arbor, tree + Latin vītae, genitive of vīta, life; see vital.]
(Download Now or Buy the Book)
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.