poplar

noun pop·lar \ ˈpä-plər \

Definition of poplar

1 a :any of a genus (Populus) of slender catkin-bearing quick-growing deciduous trees (such as an aspen or cottonwood) of the willow family

b :the wood of a poplar

2 :tulip tree 1

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Recent Examples of poplar from the Web

Targeting 12 types of trees — including the ash as well as elms, birch, poplars and maples, their favorite — the beetle could wipe out more than 20 percent of Indianapolis' trees, according to experts.

— sarah bowman, Indianapolis Star, "Thought the emerald ash borer was bad? Meet this lurking menace," 17 Aug. 2017
TruBee features honey (6 oz.) produced by free-range bees who forage for tulip poplar, fruit blossoms, and black locust in the spring.

— erin shaw street, Southern Living, "The Must-Have Subscription Box Everyone's Talking About," 11 July 2017
Use a miter saw to cut two 9-inch lengths and two 2-inch lengths from the poplar. 2.

— Popular Mechanics, "How to Make This Paper Airplane Launcher," 4 July 2017
Philip Samuel Cole Jr. is buried next to his parents and his baby brother, three flat stones embedded under all that oak and poplar.

— gregg doyel, The Courier-Journal, "Doyel: Can a dead man save the Madison Regatta?," 28 June 2017
The scene resembled a parade route with people facing outward, at the thicket of tulip poplars, hemlocks, red oaks and maple trees.

— andrea sachs, chicagotribune.com, "For 2 spectacular weeks, mating fireflies light up Smoky Mountains," 15 June 2017
Now someone is slamming a grocery basket upside down, releasing a bunch of live frogs; now a young woman is encircled by a grove of dead poplars; now snow leopards are descending upon the market in Pebble Town from Snow Mountain.

— evan james, The New Yorker, "The Mysterious Frontiers of Can Xue," 8 June 2017
Sawara cypress, yellow poplar, canoe birch, magnolia, honey locust, Chinese lacquer tree and so many more.

— lynda v. mapes, The Seattle Times, "Once a cemetery, Denny Park — Seattle’s oldest — gets a modern makeover," 21 May 2017
Expect to see a lot of pine, oak, mahogany, walnut, and poplar crafted in his patchwork-style furniture.

— jessica mattern, Country Living, "Clint and Kelly Harp's New Television Show Debuts This Week," 6 Mar. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of poplar

Middle English popler, from Anglo-French, from Old French *pople poplar, from Latin populus

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

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Poplar

geographical name Pop·lar \ ˈpä-plər \

Definition of Poplar

former metropolitan borough of eastern London, England, on the northern bank of the Thames River that is now part of the borough of Tower Hamlets

POPLAR Defined for English Language Learners

poplar

noun

Definition of poplar for English Language Learners

: a tall, thin tree that has rough bark, soft wood, and very small groups of flowers

POPLAR Defined for Kids

poplar

noun pop·lar \ ˈpä-plər \

Definition of poplar for Students

:a tree that has rough bark and a white substance resembling cotton around its seeds

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Spanish Central: Translation of poplar Nglish: Translation of poplar for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about poplar

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