: any of a genus (Larix) of northern hemisphere trees of the pine family with short fascicled deciduous leaves
also : the wood of a larch

Illustration of larch

Illustration of larch

Examples of larch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Also known as a tamarack, western larches are found throughout the Rocky Mountain segments of Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 21 Sep. 2025 In autumn, this dreamy trek among the clouds is made even more breathtaking by the changing larches, with amber rivers blazing between ice-blue sky and lagoons. Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 16 Sep. 2025 Eastern larch, or tamarack, is a larch variety found in wetter parts of Michigan. Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 9 Sep. 2025 Designed by France's Quadrapol, the Cabana is based on a double-axle trailer and is clad in larch or red cedar, with a steel roof and a small storage box outside. New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for larch

Word History

Etymology

probably from German Lärche, from Middle High German lerche, from Latin laric-, larix

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of larch was in 1548

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Larch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/larch. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

larch

noun
: any of a genus of trees related to the pines that shed their short needles each fall

Geographical Definition

Larch

geographical name

river 270 miles (434 kilometers) long in western Quebec, Canada, flowing northeast to unite with the Caniapiskau River forming the Koksoak River

More from Merriam-Webster on larch

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