[lin.den] n [ME, made of linden wood, fr. OE, fr. lind linden tree; prob. akin to OE lithe gentle--more at lithe] (1577) 1: any of a genus (Tilia of the family Tiliaceae, the linden family) of trees of temperate regions that are planted as shade trees and are distinguished by having cordate leaves and a winglike bract attached to the peduncle of the flower and fruit: as a: a European tree (T. europaea) much used for ornamental planting b: a tall forest tree (T. americana) chiefly of the central and eastern U.S.--called also basswood, whitewood
2: the light fine-grained white wood of a linden; esp: basswood
2.