Box n.  Bot. A tree or shrub, flourishing in different parts of the world. The common box (Buxus sempervirens) has two varieties, one of which, the dwarf box (Buxus suffruticosa), is much used for borders in gardens.  The wood of the tree varieties, being very hard and smooth, is extensively used in the arts, as by turners, engravers, mathematical instrument makers, etc.
 Box elder, the ash-leaved maple (Negundo aceroides), of North America.
 Box holly, the butcher's broom (Russus aculeatus).
 Box thorn, a shrub (Lycium barbarum).
 Box tree, the tree variety of the common box.


 El·der n.  Bot. A genus of shrubs (Sambucus) having broad umbels of white flowers, and small black or red berries.
 Note: ☞ The common North American species is Sambucus Canadensis; the common European species (S. nigra) forms a small tree. The red-berried elder is S. pubens. The berries are diaphoretic and aperient.  The European elder (Sambucus nigra) is also called the elderberry, bourtree, Old World elder, black elder, and common elder.
 Box elder. See under 1st Box.
 Dwarf elder. See Danewort.
 Elder tree. Bot. Same as Elder. --Shak.
 Marsh elder, the cranberry tree Viburnum Opulus).

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 box elder
      n : common shade tree of eastern and central United States [syn:
           ash-leaved maple, Acer negundo]