red cedar

noun

Definition of red cedar

1 : a common juniper (Juniperus virginiana) chiefly of the eastern U.S. that has dark green closely imbricated scalelike leaves also : a related tree (J. silicicola) of the southeastern U.S.

2 : western red cedar sense 1

3 : the red or reddish-brown wood of a red cedar

Examples of red cedar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The red cedar provides respite for a rare wintering bird called the northern saw-whet owl. — Sheryl Devore, chicagotribune.com, "Lake County’s aromatic evergreens beckon in winter," 24 Dec. 2020 Western red cedar is the wood most often used, but maple, hickory, and alder are also common. — The Editors, Outdoor Life, "How to Cook Meals with Grilling Planks," 23 Oct. 2019 There are some upright and useful varieties of the native eastern red cedar, perhaps undervalued because of its weediness in the wild. — Washington Post, "Winter wonders: Conifers revive the sleeping garden. But remember, less is more.," 2 Dec. 2020 Western red cedar is typically the wood used for the planks. — Chuck Blount, ExpressNews.com, "Chuck’s Food Shack: How to grill your fish with cedar planks," 12 Oct. 2020 There is no place for plants with a high oil or resin content or that produce fine, dry or dead leaves or needles such as ornamental junipers, holly, red cedar, arborvitae and small pine trees, say fire experts. — oregonlive, "PGE may shut off power to Mount Hood residents to prevent fires: Here’s what you need to do at home," 6 Sep. 2020 Styled in a barrel shape, this 6-foot long outdoor red cedar sauna is designed to provide the most amount of usable interior space. — Popular Science, "Outdoor saunas that’ll turn your house into a spa-like estate," 19 Aug. 2020 The next most popular wood-decking options are redwood and Western red cedar. — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, "How To Choose The Right Material For Your Deck," 7 June 2020 The best grades of red cedar decking are (listed from most expensive and clearest, to least expensive and most knotty): architect clear, custom clear, architect knotty, and custom knotty. — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, "How To Choose The Right Material For Your Deck," 7 June 2020

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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about red cedar

Dictionary Entries near red cedar

Statistics for red cedar

Cite this Entry

“Red cedar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red%20cedar. Accessed 8 Mar. 2021.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster

Comments on red cedar

What made you want to look up red cedar? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

WORD OF THE DAY

pivot

Listen to the pronunciation of pivot

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Who Knew?

What is a ruelle?

How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ

Universal Daily Crossword

A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.

TAKE THE QUIZ