any evergreen or deciduous shrub or tree belonging to the genus Rhododendron, of the heath family, having rounded clusters of showy, pink, purple, or white flowers and oval or oblong leaves.
Origin
1595-1605; < Latin < Greekrhodódendron (rhódo-rhodo- + déndron tree)
Examples from the web for rhododendron
The trackers are accompanied a tangle of rhododendron.
When you tire of riding, hike park trails leading through dense rhododendron stands.
Look especially for the many types of rhododendron, including azaleas.
The campground is shaded by an oak forest, full of rhododendron and mountain laurels.
Trek through rhododendron and birch forests, alpine meadows and glacial valleys, over streams and alongside lakes and monasteries.
Its outdoor displays include rose and rhododendron gardens, along with a rock garden.
Temperatures fluctuate in the springtime, and frequent rain aids the blooming of rhododendron and azaleas.
Among the highlights is a large, forestlike collection of mature rhododendron shrubs.
Decorating for the holidays no longer simply means tossing a couple of strings of lights around the nearest rhododendron.
British Dictionary definitions for rhododendron
rhododendron
/ˌrəʊdəˈdɛndrən/
noun
1.
any ericaceous shrub of the genus Rhododendron, native to S Asia but widely cultivated in N temperate regions. They are mostly evergreen and have clusters of showy red, purple, pink, or white flowers Also called (US) rosebay See also azalea
Word Origin
C17: from Latin: oleander, from Greek, from rhodon rose + dendron tree
Word Origin and History for rhododendron
n.
c.1600, from French rhododendron and directly from Latin rhododendron, from Greek rhododendron, literally "rose-tree," from rhodon "rose" (see rose (n.1)) + dendron "tree" (see dendro-).