Definition of: rhododendron

(rō′də·den′drən) noun
Any of a genus (Rhododendron) of showy evergreen shrubs or small trees of the heath family, with profuse clusters of beautiful flowers, found growing wild in mountainous regions; especially, the great rhododendron (R. macrophyllum), the State flower of Washington, and the rosebay rhododendron (R. maximum), the State flower of West Virginia. [<L <Gk. <rhodon rose + dendron tree]