cottonwood
noun
cot·ton·wood
ˈkä-tᵊn-ˌwu̇d 
: 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
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End your drive with a stay at Chinati Hot Springs, and soak in the steaming springwater beneath rustling cottonwoods and the glittering expanse of Texas stars.
—
Eva Frederick, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2025
Aspens thrive at elevations between 7,000 and 9,500 feet, so head to the national park spots Hollowell Park, Beaver Meadows, and Glacier Gorge, which are also home to pumpkin-orange cottonwoods.
—Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 25 Aug. 2025
The fire department stated that the incident involved a vehicle and a person trapped under a large cottonwood tree.
—David Chiu, People.com, 12 Aug. 2025
The severe weather is part of the same storm system that brought strong winds with gusts higher than 80 mph to Nebraska, where one person was killed and another was seriously injured by a large cottonwood tree that toppled onto their vehicle.
—Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2025
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Eva Frederick, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2025
Aspens thrive at elevations between 7,000 and 9,500 feet, so head to the national park spots Hollowell Park, Beaver Meadows, and Glacier Gorge, which are also home to pumpkin-orange cottonwoods.
—Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 25 Aug. 2025
The fire department stated that the incident involved a vehicle and a person trapped under a large cottonwood tree.
—David Chiu, People.com, 12 Aug. 2025
The severe weather is part of the same storm system that brought strong winds with gusts higher than 80 mph to Nebraska, where one person was killed and another was seriously injured by a large cottonwood tree that toppled onto their vehicle.
—Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cottonwood
Cite this Entry
“Cottonwood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cottonwood. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cottonwood
noun
cot·ton·wood
-ˌwu̇d
: 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
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