red cedar

noun

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

If the fire clears out some of that overgrowth and the eastern red cedar, the prairie grass and forb species will regenerate in those areas, restoring wildlife habitat. —Karen Hickman, The Conversation, 1 Mar. 2024

Our flames destroyed the young Eastern red cedars that threatened to turn prairie into woodland. —M. R. O’Connor, The New Yorker, 29 Feb. 2024

Across the border, that area of Oklahoma is more rugged and has another problem: a lot of eastern red cedar that are native but have expanded as invasive species because of the lack of periodic fire. —Karen Hickman, The Conversation, 1 Mar. 2024

From bottom left to top right is a tinder bundle, made from the inner bark of a cottonwood tree and some red cedar bark, a stone thunderhead, a honeysuckle bow with a cord made from dogbane fibers, a goldenrod spindle and a white pine hearth board. —Bradley Duncan, Discover Magazine, 25 Dec. 2023

The panel at the back of the cab has his logo and is striped with pignut hickory, red cedar, cypress and white oak. —Lawrence Specker | [e-mail], al, 18 Sep. 2023

Both homes are designed in a classic log cabin style, crafted with Canadian red cedar and native Montana stone. —Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 10 Jan. 2024

At the end of a winding road from Morzine, the first view of Avoriaz is of the red cedar buildings of La Falaise, perched on the edge of a monumental cliff like some warped cruise ship. —Toby Skinner, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Jan. 2022

The best woods include osage, Oregon yew, white ash, Southern red cedar, black walnut, black locust, apple, and mulberry. —Keith McCafferty, Field & Stream, 29 June 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1682, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

red cedar

noun

1

: any of several U.S. evergreen trees that are conifers with scalelike leaves and fragrant red or reddish brown wood

2

: the wood of a red cedar