arborvitae

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   any of several evergreen conifers of the genera Thuja and Thujopsis, commonly grown as ornamental trees or hedges

   A row of arborvitae formed a dense evergreen screen along the garden wall.

2. 2
   noun

   anatomy: the branching white matter of the cerebellum as seen in section

   The branching pattern of the cerebellar white matter is called the arborvitae.

From New Latin arbor vitae, literally 'tree of life,' from Latin arbor, 'tree,' + vitae, 'of life.' The botanical name dates from the seventeenth century and refers to evergreen Thuja species; anatomy applied the same image to the tree-like branching of white matter in the cerebellum.

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