dogwood

noun

dog·​wood ˈdȯg-ˌwu̇d 

: any of various trees and shrubs (genus Cornus of the family Cornaceae, the dogwood family) with clusters of small flowers and often large white, pink, or red involucral bracts

Examples of dogwood in a Sentence

The furniture is made of dogwood.

Recent Examples on the Web

The house is surrounded by towering, centuries-old magnolia trees, dogwoods, pecan trees, and Southern live oaks, and has a pretty shaded garden. —Amy Bentley, Oc Register, 7 May 2025

There is still a schism in the game, and just 12 from the breakaway LIV Golf league will be teeing up among the pink dogwoods and blooming azaleas. —CBS News, 10 Apr. 2025

But today, like your beautiful dogwood tree on the White House lawn, Oklahoma City clearly is blooming again. — An excerpt from Clinton’s speech at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum dedication, April 19, 2000. —Jenni Carlson, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025

With all the flowering azalea bushes and dogwood trees in the background, springtime in Georgia is simply the best time to showcase the tournament and the stunning property upon which it is played. —Don Riddell, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing dogwood

• flowering dogwood

Rhymes for dogwood

• allgood
• basswood
• beechwood
• bellwood
• birchwood
• boxwood
• boyhood
• brushwood
• childhood
• cordwood
• driftwood
• falsehood

Kids Definition

dogwood

noun

dog·​wood ˈdȯg-ˌwu̇d 

: any of various trees and shrubs having clusters of small flowers often surrounded by four showy leaves that look like petals

Medical Definition

dogwood

noun

dog·​wood ˈdȯ-ˌgwu̇d 

: any tree or shrub of the genus Cornus