creosote bush

noun

: a resinous desert shrub (Larrea tridentata) of the caltrop family found in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico

Illustration of creosote bush

Illustration of creosote bush

Examples of creosote bush in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But within minutes of hiking into the desert, creosote bushes and mesquite pull the sand into disorienting mounds that can, without warning, block the view in every direction. Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 2 June 2025 The landscape is vast and rugged, a mish-mash of rock, dirt and creosote bushes, swaths of gray and brown under a deep blue sky. Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024 The morning drive was quiet and scenic through hills dotted with creosote bushes, spiky cacti and spindly ocotillo plants leading up to Safford, the hometown of a good friend who got the hell out of there. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024 The sap groove prevents sticky buildup, which is perfect for working on resinous plants like creosote bush, aspen, desert willows, birch, and alder. Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 15 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for creosote bush

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of creosote bush was in 1846

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Cite this Entry

“Creosote bush.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/creosote%20bush. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

creosote bush

noun
: a desert shrub of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico with small yellow flowers

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