# acacia

/əˈkeɪʃə/ (US) · /ɐkˈeɪʃɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/acacia
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a type of tree or shrub that usually has yellow or white flowers and grows in warm parts of the world. Many kinds have sharp thorns and produce a sticky liquid used in food and glue.

For teachers: any of various trees or shrubs belonging to the genus Acacia, native to tropical and subtropical regions. Characterised by bipinnate leaves or phyllodes and small, globose flowers; many species yield gums or tannins of commercial value.

## Examples

- The giraffe eats leaves from the tall acacia tree.
- The vast African savanna is dotted with flat-topped acacia trees that provide shade for local wildlife.
- Botanists noted that the local acacia species had developed symbiotic relationships with ant colonies, which protected the foliage from herbivores in exchange for nectar and shelter.

## Usage notes

- Often used as a collective noun when referring to the wood or the genus as a whole.

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