Meaning & use
eucalyptus
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A tall evergreen tree native to Australia, with aromatic leaves, some kinds of which are eaten by koalas.
Grammar: Countable when referring to individual trees: a eucalyptus, two eucalyptuses.
Patterns
- a eucalyptus tree
- eucalyptus forests
- plant eucalyptus
Koalas feed almost entirely on eucalyptus leaves.
The hills were covered with eucalyptus trees after the fire.
We planted a eucalyptus in the garden, but it grew very fast.
noununcountable
The oil from eucalyptus leaves, used in medicines and sweets for its strong, fresh smell.
Grammar: Used without a plural when talking about the oil or substance.
Patterns
- eucalyptus oil
- a eucalyptus cough drop
- smell of eucalyptus
She rubbed eucalyptus oil on her chest to help her breathe at night.
These sweets taste of eucalyptus and menthol.
The room smelled of eucalyptus from the diffuser.
Word forms
| plural | eucalyptuses |
|---|---|
| plural | eucalypti |
Common combinations
- eucalyptus oil
- Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to hot water for a steam inhalation.
- eucalyptus tree
- The eucalyptus tree can grow over 60 meters tall.
- eucalyptus forest
- Many Australian animals live in eucalyptus forests.
- eucalyptus leaves
- Koalas eat eucalyptus leaves, which are toxic to most other animals.
- scent of eucalyptus
- The scent of eucalyptus filled the spa.
Synonyms and how they differ
- gum tree
- A common everyday name for a eucalyptus, especially in Australia.
- blue gum
- A specific type of eucalyptus with blue-gray leaves, not a general term.
Word family
- eucalypt noun
- A shorter form used mainly in Australian English for a eucalyptus tree.
Commonly confused: eucalyptus or eucalyptus?
eucalyptus vs eucalyptus
Learners sometimes misspell it as 'eucaliptus' or 'eucaliptys'. The correct spelling has 'y' after 'eucal' and ends in '-us'.
Practice
Koalas depend on ______ leaves for food and water.
Choose one answer.
When referring to the leaves of the tree in a general sense, the singular form 'eucalyptus' is used as a modifier. 'Eucalyptuses' and 'eucalypti' are plural forms of the tree itself, and 'eucalyptus's' is possessive, which does not fit here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “eucalyptus”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.