Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Spanish moss

noun

Definition of Spanish moss

: an epiphytic plant (Tillandsia usneoides) of the pineapple family forming pendent tufts of grayish-green filaments on trees from the southern U.S. to Argentina

See Spanish moss defined for English-language learners

See Spanish moss defined for kids

Illustration of spanish moss

illustration of spanish moss

First Known Use of spanish moss

1823

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

SPANISH MOSS Defined for English Language Learners

Spanish moss

noun

Definition of Spanish moss for English Language Learners

  • : a type of American plant that has long gray strands and that hangs down from the branches of trees

Learn More about spanish moss

  1. See words that rhyme with Spanish moss

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up Spanish moss? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

paste

play

to beat or defeat soundly

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. ideologue 'an often blindly partisan advocate or adherent of a particular ideology'

  2. socialism 'a way of organizing a society in which major industries are owned and controlled by the government'

  3. uphold 'to let stand'

  4. due process 'a course of formal proceedings (as judicial proceedings)'

  5. asylum 'protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Spanish moss

Test Your Vocabulary

Test Your Emoji Exceptionalism

  • test-your-emoji-exceptionalism-written-with-a-lot-of-emoji
  • What is this emoji intended to represent: 🤳
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games