elm

noun \ ˈelm \

Updated on: 5 Apr 2018

Definition of elm

1 : any of a genus (Ulmus of the family Ulmaceae, the elm family) of usually large deciduous north temperate-zone trees with alternate stipulate leaves and fruit that is a samara

2 : the wood of an elm

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Recent Examples of elm from the Web

The beetle will infest various common trees including all species of maple, buckeye, willow, and elm.

— sheila vilvens, Cincinnati.com, "Government celebrates clearing 5 miles of beetle infestation... out of 60 quarantined miles," 19 Mar. 2018
Emerging elm flowers proved to be a great attractant for small groups of American goldfinches and house finches in the treetops.

— taylor piephoff, charlotteobserver, "Four Mile Creek Greenway is a good site to look for winter wrens | Charlotte Observer," 23 Feb. 2018
These jets were driven across the kids’ bodies, lacerating their flesh, tearing clothing off their backs; hitting the elm trees in nearby Kelly Ingram Park, the blasts ripped off the bark.

— steven levingston, Washington Post, "Children have changed America before, braving fire hoses and police dogs for civil rights," 22 Feb. 2018
Perhaps some of the best options, depending on your soil and its depth, would be cedar elm or pecan.

— neil sperry, San Antonio Express-News, "Hard to say why mountain laurels haven’t bloomed in years," 1 Mar. 2018
Elmsford adopted its current name around 1870, in recognition of a large elm tree that stood near a ford across the river, used as a landmark by George Washington during the Revolutionary War.

— susan hodara, New York Times, "Elmsford, N.Y.: A Quiet Village Surrounded by Highways and Commerce," 21 Feb. 2018
These jets were driven across the kids' bodies, lacerating their flesh, tearing clothing off their backs; hitting the elm trees in nearby Kelly Ingram Park, the blasts ripped off the bark.

— the washington post, AL.com, "Florida teens fighting for gun control can learn from Birmingham's Children's Crusade," 20 Feb. 2018
The disease has killed millions of British elm trees, which is the food source for white-letter hairstreak caterpillars.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "This Butterfly Recently Returned to Scotland. Now, It’s Laying Eggs," 19 Feb. 2018
Counters are fashioned from marble and elm from China.

— NBC News, "In San Francisco's Chinatown, a food hall wants to showcase the best of China," 5 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'elm.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.