sassafras

UK: /ˈsæsəˌfræs/ US: /ˈsæsəˌfræs/ ,(sas′ə fras′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

sas•sa•fras /ˈsæsəˌfræs/   n. 

1. Plant Biology [countable] an E North American tree of the laurel family.
2. Plant Biology [uncountable] the sweet-smelling bark of its root, used esp. as a flavoring.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sas•sa•fras  (sas′ə fras′), n. 

1. Plant Biology an American tree, Sassafras albidum, of the laurel family, having egg-shaped leaves and long clusters of greenish-yellow flowers.
2. Plant Biology the aromatic bark of its root, used medicinally and esp. for flavoring beverages, confectionery, etc.

• Spanish sasafrás
• 1570–80

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

sassafras / ˈsæsəˌfræs/ noun

1. an aromatic deciduous lauraceous tree, Sassafras albidum, of North America, having three-lobed leaves and dark blue fruits
2. the aromatic dried root bark of this tree, used as a flavouring, and yielding sassafras oil
3. any of several unrelated trees having a similar fragrant bark

Etymology: 16th Century: from Spanish sasafrás, of uncertain origin