cypress

1 of 2

noun (1)

cy·​press ˈsī-prəs 

1

a(1)

: any of a genus (Cupressus of the family Cupressaceae, the cypress family) of evergreen trees and shrubs with small overlapping leaves resembling scales

(2)

: any of several coniferous trees of the cypress family or the bald cypress family

especially : bald cypress sense 1

b

: the wood of a cypress tree

2

: branches of cypress used as a symbol of mourning

cypress

2 of 2

noun (2)

: a silk or cotton usually black gauze formerly used for mourning

Examples of cypress in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Rather than relying on familiar Japanese motifs, such as shoji screens, the interior has been built around traditional timber-framing techniques, using cypress wood processed in Japan and assembled in Paris by Association Daiku, a collective dedicated to preserving Japanese carpentry traditions. — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 23 June 2026

Alerce Milenario, also known as Gran Abuelo, is a Patagonian cypress in Chile that could be anywhere from 2,400 to 5,500 years old. — Karina Zaiets, USA Today, 19 June 2026

Rent a tube and hop into this spring-fed jewel that stays a refreshing 72 degrees Fahrenheit year-round and let the flow carry you past ancient cypress trees, sunning turtles, and wading birds. — Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 17 June 2026

Five-hundred-year-old cypress trees had been ripped from their roots and sent rolling down the river. — Karen Valby, Vanity Fair, 16 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English cipres, from Anglo-French ciprès, from Latin cyparissus, from Greek kyparissos

Noun (2)

Middle English ciprus, cipres, from Cyprus, Mediterranean island

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cypress

• bald cypress
• cypress vine
• Monterey cypress
• summer cypress

Kids Definition

cypress

noun

cy·​press

ˈsī-prəs

1

: any of a genus of evergreen trees and shrubs that are related to the pines and have overlapping scalelike leaves

2

: bald cypress

3

: the wood of a cypress tree

Geographical Definition

Cypress

geographical name

Cy·​press ˈsī-prəs 

city in southwestern California southeast of Los Angeles population 47,802