sumac
pronunciation
How to pronounce sumac in British English:
UK ['ʃu:mæk]
How to pronounce sumac in American English:
US ['ʃumæk]
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- Noun:
- wood of a sumac
- a shrub or tree of the genus Rhus (usually limited to the non-poisonous members of the genus)
Word Origin
- sumac (n.)
- also sumach, c. 1300, "preparation of dried, chopped leaves of a plant of the genus Rhus" (used in tanning and dyeing and as an astringent), from Old French sumac (13c.), from Medieval Latin sumach, from Arabic summaq, from Syrian summaq "red." Of the tree itself from 1540s; later applied to a North American plant species.
Example
- 1. Familiarize yourself with the look of plants like poison ivy , poison sumac , poison oak , and others . Also be familiar with things like cactus and other plants that can stab or poke or jab you and leave marks and scrapes on the skin .
- 2. The grassy prairie landscape is dotted with shrub thickets of sumac and dogwood , which are favored by birds and small animals .
- 3. Rain-washed and windswept , sumac brightens as it nears peak season . Once used as a simple dye , these leaves still color the countryside each autumn .