al·mond /ˈɑmənd, ˈæ, ˈɑl, ˈæl-/
 杏仁


 al·mond /ˈɑmənd, ˈæm; ˈɑlmənd, ˈæl-/ 名詞
 苦扁桃,杏仁


 Alm·ond n.
 1. The fruit of the almond tree.
 Note: ☞ The different kinds, as bitter, sweet, thin-shelled, thick-shelled almonds, and Jordan almonds, are the products of different varieties of the one species, Amygdalus communis, a native of the Mediterranean region and western Asia.
 2. The tree that bears the fruit; almond tree.
 3. Anything shaped like an almond. Specifically: Anat. One of the tonsils.
 Almond oil, fixed oil expressed from sweet or bitter almonds.
 Oil of bitter almonds, a poisonous volatile oil obtained from bitter almonds by maceration and distillation; benzoic aldehyde.
 Imitation oil of bitter almonds, nitrobenzene.
 Almond tree Bot., the tree bearing the almond.
 Almond willow Bot., a willow which has leaves that are of a light green on both sides; almond-leaved willow (Salix amygdalina).

 ◄ ►


 almond
      n 1: small bushy deciduous tree native to Asia and North Africa
           having pretty pink blossoms and highly prized edible
           nuts enclosed in a hard green hull; cultivated in
           southern Australia and California [syn: sweet almond,
           Prunus dulcis, Prunus amygdalus, Amygdalus communis]
      2: oval-shaped edible seed of the almond tree


 Almond
    a native of Syria and Palestine. In form, blossoms, and fruit it
    resembles the peach tree. Its blossoms are of a very pale pink
    colour, and appear before its leaves. Its Hebrew name, _shaked_,
    signifying "wakeful, hastening," is given to it on account of
    its putting forth its blossoms so early, generally in February,
    and sometimes even in January. In Eccl. 12:5, it is referred to
    as illustrative, probably, of the haste with which old age
    comes. There are others, however, who still contend for the old
    interpretation here. "The almond tree bears its blossoms in the
    midst of winter, on a naked, leafless stem, and these blossoms
    (reddish or flesh-coloured in the beginning) seem at the time of
    their fall exactly like white snow-flakes. In this way the
    almond blossom is a very fitting symbol of old age, with its
    silvery hair and its wintry, dry, barren, unfruitful condition."
    In Jer. 1:11 "I see a rod of an almond tree [shaked]...for I
    will hasten [shaked] my word to perform it" the word is used as
    an emblem of promptitude. Jacob desired his sons (Gen. 43:11) to
    take with them into Egypt of the best fruits of the land,
    almonds, etc., as a present to Joseph, probably because this
    tree was not a native of Egypt. Aaron's rod yielded almonds
    (Num. 17:8; Heb. 9:4). Moses was directed to make certain parts
    of the candlestick for the ark of carved work "like unto
    almonds" (Ex. 25:33, 34). The Hebrew word _luz_, translated
    "hazel" in the Authorized Version (Gen. 30:37), is rendered in
    the Revised Version "almond." It is probable that _luz_ denotes
    the wild almond, while _shaked_ denotes the cultivated variety.