cottonwood

noun cot·ton·wood \ ˈkä-tᵊn-ˌwu̇d \

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

Big Four Corners -- a natural area edged by cottonwood trees that ends at Fairview Lake -- or Smith and Bybee Wetlands (see below) are two great places to start.

— OregonLive.com, "Our favorite places to kayak around Portland," 20 July 2017
The relaxed brewpub setting includes slabs sawed from a massive, local cottonwood tree for its tabletops.

— robert allen, Detroit Free Press, "7 must-visit bars of Traverse City," 15 July 2017
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.

— joseph robertia, Alaska Dispatch News, "Noisy nightmare? Or dreamy campout in Seward?," 15 July 2017
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.

— erin kirkland, Alaska Dispatch News, "New K’esugi Ken Campground: Go for the views, stay for the fun," 4 July 2017
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.

— terry gardner, latimes.com, "Road trip of the future: Travel with John Muir, where the scenery is unreal and the kids fight over who sits in the back," 29 June 2017
The frog chorus from the bordering creek is boisterous, and the catbirds meow from the cottonwoods.

— anna thomas bates, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Take a cue from nature and 'hide' veggies in plain sight," 28 June 2017
And all that cottonwood threatening the screens or the air conditioner - and the tiring piles of leaves in autumn.

— maria shine stewart, cleveland.com, "What shapes an ideal neighborhood: Sun Messages," 23 June 2017
The area between the two will be planted with cottonwood, oak and sycamore trees and water-loving undergrowth.

— carolyn wilke, sacbee.com, "Flood-prone town protects itself against waters while letting a river roam," 23 June 2017

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

noun

Definition of cottonwood for English Language Learners

: 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

noun cot·ton·wood \ ˈkä-tᵊn-ˌwu̇d \

Definition of cottonwood for Students

:a poplar tree that has seeds with bunches of hairs resembling cotton

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See words that rhyme with cottonwood Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cottonwood

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