cedar

noun

ce·​dar ˈsē-dər How to pronounce cedar (audio)
1
a
: any of a genus (Cedrus) of usually tall coniferous trees (such as the cedar of Lebanon or the deodar) of the pine family noted for their fragrant durable wood
b
: any of numerous coniferous trees (as of the genera Juniperus, Chamaecyparis, or Thuja of the cypress family) that resemble the true cedars especially in the fragrance and durability of their wood
2
: the wood of a cedar
cedary
ˈsē-dər-ē How to pronounce cedar (audio)
-də-rē
adjective

Examples of cedar in a Sentence

a chair made of cedar
Recent Examples on the Web And Rhubarb, as in this delicious EDP from Perfumer H, is one of his favorite expressions of the tart veggie, in this case paired with red fruits, rose water, and cedar. Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2024 Framed by 30-foot bluffs along the shore, it's littered with driftwood from live oak and cedar trees. Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 20 Mar. 2024 Additionally, trees removed from the lot were milled and used for cedar siding on the exterior of the home. Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024 Patterns woven in natural crimson dyes by artists from the Ayoreo tribe cover the walls; wooden tortoises and tapirs, carved by Aché artisans, feature mythological scenes carefully burned into the cedar. Laurence Blair, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Allergenic trees include alder, birch, cedar, horse chestnut, oak poplar and willow. Ray Padilla, The Courier-Journal, 29 Feb. 2024 The drive to Treehouse Point, half an hour east of Seattle, takes you through a forest fit for hobbits, crowded full of fir, spruce, cedar, maple and hemlock. Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Aromas of brown baking spices, cedar chest, and cassis draw you into the glass for flavors of red plum, black raspberry, mocha, and golden-brown molasses. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 29 Feb. 2024 The Volunteer Fire Department in Stinnett has asked for the same, while a livestock supply point was due to be set up in Pampa with a request for wire, cedar posts, hay, feed and portable diesel. Nigel Chiwaya, NBC News, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cedar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English cedre, from Anglo-French, from Latin cedrus, from Greek kedros

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of cedar was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near cedar

Cite this Entry

“Cedar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cedar. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cedar

noun
ce·​dar ˈsēd-ər How to pronounce cedar (audio)
1
a
: any of a genus of usually tall trees related to the pines and noted for their fragrant durable wood
b
: any of numerous cone-bearing trees (as some junipers) resembling the true cedars especially in having fragrant long-lasting wood
2
: the wood of a cedar

Geographical Definition

Cedar

geographical name

Ce·​dar ˈsē-dər How to pronounce Cedar (audio)
river 329 miles (529 kilometers) long in southeastern Minnesota and eastern Iowa flowing southeast into the Iowa River

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