paloverde

noun

pal·​o·​ver·​de ˌpa-lō-ˈver-(ˌ)dā How to pronounce paloverde (audio)
ˌpä-,
-ˈvər- How to pronounce paloverde (audio)
1
: any of several small spiny trees or shrubs (genus Cercidium) of the legume family that have greenish branches and are found chiefly in dry regions of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico
2

Examples of paloverde in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web After a short traipse through sunny rangeland, the route makes a mild uphill climb to where views of distant mountain ranges and peaks appear over acres of paloverde trees and enormous saguaro cactuses. Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 28 Oct. 2021 Scattered stands of paloverde trees and saguaro cactus provide spots of shade throughout the otherwise open-to-the-sky hike. Mare Czinar, azcentral, 27 Feb. 2020 Head south and follow the dirt single track that traces the park’s southeast boundary through rumpled washes and lush stands of ironwoods and paloverde trees that clutter moist drainages. Mare Czinar, azcentral, 28 Nov. 2019 A million lights drape saguaros, ocotillos and paloverde trees as luminarias guide visitors along shimmering pathways through the park’s 49 acres. Roger Naylor, azcentral, 22 Nov. 2019 Bowen, who had lived in South Carolina before joining the agency, was assigned to the Border Patrol station in Nogales, an outpost in the hill country of southern Arizona, where scrubby mesquite and paloverde trees stud the rugged landscape. A.c. Thompson, ProPublica, 16 Aug. 2019 But a good overview starts at the Waddell Trail with its cholla, saguaro and paloverde. Sonja Haller, azcentral, 16 Feb. 2015 In the high desert east of this border town, the rolling hills topped with mesquite and paloverde trees are a picture of rugged desolation. Richard Marosi, latimes.com, 16 Apr. 2018 Keeping company with the ironwood trees are mesquite, paloverde, creosote and saguaro. latimes.com, 26 Apr. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'paloverde.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Mexican Spanish, literally, green tree

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of paloverde was in 1829

Dictionary Entries Near paloverde

Cite this Entry

“Paloverde.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paloverde. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!