-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
creosote bush
noun
: a resinous desert shrub (Larrea tridentata) of the caltrop family found in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico
Examples of creosote bush in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
After a brief hike through some scrub, Wall finds a creosote bush studded with holes at the roots — evidence of pack rats that will provide the snake with sustenance.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2024
Dashiell, 43, steps in close to enjoy a creosote bush’s telltale aroma of black tar and sand after a storm.
—Tyrone Beason, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2024
Some of the area’s perennial creosote bushes died back during a severe drought that hampered the region through 2022.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 20 Apr. 2024
Perhaps you’ll be inspired by local scents, like the smell of creosote bushes, which have an earthy brightness after a light rain.
—Lucky Benson, New York Times, 14 Dec. 2023
That’s 1,000 years older than a 12,000-year-old Palm Springs creosote bush that was previously thought to be the oldest plant in California, 8,000 years older than bristlecone pines, and 10,000 years older than the redwoods, according to a study by UC Davis and UC Riverside scientists.
—Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2023
The oldest clone with a firm age is an 11,700-year-old creosote bush (researchers were able to date it by measuring the rate at which its circle expands).
—Michael C Grant, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Overgrazing degraded the rangelands, and mesquite and creosote bushes crowded out native grasses.
—Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2023
Towering saguaro cactuses are collapsing from the heat, and the agaves, creosote bushes and stubby barrel cactuses that spangle highways are turning yellow.
—Jack Healy, New York Times, 31 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'creosote bush.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1846, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near creosote bush
Cite this Entry
“Creosote bush.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/creosote%20bush. Accessed 17 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
creosote bush
noun
: a desert shrub of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico with small yellow flowers
More from Merriam-Webster on creosote bush
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about creosote bush
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share