casuarina

noun ca·su·a·ri·na \ˌka-zhə-(wə-)ˈrē-nə\

Definition of CASUARINA

: any of a genus (Casuarina of the family Casuarinaceae) of dicotyledonous chiefly Australian trees which have whorls of scalelike leaves and jointed stems resembling horsetails and some of which yield a heavy hard wood

Origin of CASUARINA

New Latin, genus name, from Malay (pohon) kĕsuari, literally, cassowary tree; from the resemblance of its twigs to cassowary feathers

First Known Use: 1777

Rhymes with CASUARINA

amberina, Argentina, ballerina, Catalina, cavatina, Chianina, concertina, Filipina, javelina, ocarina, Palestrina, Pasadena, Saint Helena, sand verbena, semolina, signorina, sonatina, Teresina, Wilhelmina

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: CasuarinalesPrevious Word in the Dictionary: CasuariiformesAll Words Near: casuarina

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up casuarina? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

View Seen & Heard Highlights from Around the Site

Test Your Vocabulary!

10 Charming Words for Nasty People

Put-downs with flair

Learn More

When "Literally" isn't, well, literal

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

Watch Now

Know what this is?

Test your vocab with our fun, fast game

Go Play

Fear of cats?

Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears

Learn More