cottonwood

noun

cot·​ton·​wood ˈkä-tᵊn-ˌwu̇d How to pronounce cottonwood (audio)
: 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

Examples of cottonwood in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The main desk in the lobby was carved from a fallen cottonwood tree. Judith Kohler, The Denver Post, 18 Oct. 2024 Tall cottonwood trees and willows enveloped the riverbanks in cool shade and swallows soared among the branches. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2024 With its deeply grooved bark and shimmering gold leaves, cottonwood, along with orange- and red-eafed scrub oak, stately ponderosa pine, and rugged juniper make a Foothills hike nearly as rewarding. Krista Kafer, The Denver Post, 3 Oct. 2024 Dead Horse Ranch State Park Hike, bike, camp or go horseback riding along over 20 miles of trails, lined by changing colors as the green cottonwood trees turn to vibrant yellow and orange. Lauren De Young, The Arizona Republic, 28 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cottonwood 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cottonwood.' 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

1802, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cottonwood was in 1802

Dictionary Entries Near cottonwood

Cite this Entry

“Cottonwood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cottonwood. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

cottonwood

noun
cot·​ton·​wood -ˌwu̇d How to pronounce cottonwood (audio)
: a poplar with a small bunch of cottony hairs on the seed
especially : one of the eastern and central U.S. that grows rapidly and produces many leaves

More from Merriam-Webster on cottonwood

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