Definition of cottonwood
: any of several poplars having seeds with cottony hairs; especially : one (Populus deltoides) of the eastern and central U.S. often cultivated for its rapid growth and luxuriant foliage
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Recent Examples of cottonwood from the Web
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The relaxed brewpub setting includes slabs sawed from a massive, local cottonwood tree for its tabletops.
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An adult bald eagle, as majestic as a national emblem should be, stared intently at the silty sea from its perch high in a weatherworn cottonwood tree.
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Above the Parks Highway, and sheltered by stands of cottonwood and spruce forest, the campground avoids the traffic noise prevalent in so many places between Anchorage and Denali National Park.
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Art lovers can gaze at the gray cliffs and cottonwoods Georgia O’Keeffe painted from her serene home and studio (reservations required) in Abiquiú, 60 miles northwest of Santa Fe.
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The frog chorus from the bordering creek is boisterous, and the catbirds meow from the cottonwoods.
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And all that cottonwood threatening the screens or the air conditioner - and the tiring piles of leaves in autumn.
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The area between the two will be planted with cottonwood, oak and sycamore trees and water-loving undergrowth.
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In addition to switchgrass and American beach grass, look for cocklebur, sea rocket and cottonwood here.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cottonwood.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of cottonwood
1802
COTTONWOOD Defined for English Language Learners
cottonwood
playDefinition of cottonwood for English Language Learners
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: a type of tree that grows in the U.S. and has seeds that look like they are covered with cotton
COTTONWOOD Defined for Kids
cottonwood
playDefinition of cottonwood for Students
: a poplar tree that has seeds with bunches of hairs resembling cotton
Learn More about cottonwood
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See words that rhyme with cottonwood Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cottonwood
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