red dogwood n 1: European deciduous shrub turning red in autumn having dull white flowers [syn: {common European dogwood}, {blood-twig}, {pedwood}, {Cornus sanguinea}] 2: common North American shrub with reddish purple twigs and white flowers [syn: {red osier}, {red osier dogwood}, {American dogwood}, {redbrush}, {Cornus stolonifera}]