GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Alder (a̤lˈdẽr), n. [OE. aldir, aller, fr. AS. alr, aler, alor, akin to D. els, G. erle, Icel. erlir, erli, Swed. al, Dan. elle, el, L. alnus, and E. elm.] (Bot.) A tree, usually growing in moist land, and belonging to the genus Alnus. The wood is used by turners, etc.; the bark by dyers and tanners.  In the U. S. the species of alder are usually shrubs or small trees.
   
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   Black alder. (a) A European shrub (Rhamnus frangula); Alder buckthorn. (b) An American species of holly (Ilex verticillata), bearing red berries.
   
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2.       
    Alder (a̤lˈdẽr), Aller (a̤lˈlẽr),  a. [From ealra, alra, gen. pl. of AS. eal. The d is excrescent.] Of all; -- used in composition; as, “alderbest, best of all, alderwisest, wisest of all”. [Obs.]  Chaucer.
   
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