tupelo

noun

tu·​pe·​lo ˈtü-pə-ˌlō 

ˈtyü-

plural tupelos

1

: any of a genus (Nyssa of the family Nyssaceae) of North American and Asian deciduous trees that have simple alternate leaves, small usually greenish-white dioecious flowers, and a rounded drupe

especially : black gum

2

: the pale soft wood of a tupelo

Examples of tupelo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For a street tree, a Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata) or black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) would be appropriate. —Tovah Martin, Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2023

Also called tupelo, black gum is a fast grower that doesn’t mind swampy areas. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, 21 July 2023

Future park visitors will be able to rest on the bench in the shade of two tupelo trees and enjoy the view. —Mary Jane Brewer, cleveland, 28 Sep. 2022

For soils with above-average moisture: river birch, black tupelo, American hornbeam, sweetbay magnolia, serviceberry and smooth alder should grow well. —Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 20 Apr. 2022

Sherwood recommended placing a rain garden at least 10 feet away from the house, and likes to include native red maple and tupelo trees if there’s room. —Jon Gorey, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Mar. 2022

The tupelo is most striking in the autumn, when its leaves turn bright scarlet. —Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 14 Sep. 2021

These monoliths face three longleaf pine trees and are surrounded by a grove of tupelo trees. —Bebe Howorth, ELLE Decor, 22 Apr. 2021

Try coasting among the tupelo trees, with trunks that stretch wide into the water, through Cedar Creek. —Katie Strasberg Rousso, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 2021

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from Creek *topiló, from etó tree + piló:(fa), opiló:(fa) swamp

First Known Use

circa 1730, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Geographical Definition

Tupelo

geographical name

Tu·​pe·​lo ˈtü-pə-ˌlō 

ˈtyü-

city in northeastern Mississippi population 34,546

Note: Singer Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo in 1935.