redwood

noun

red·​wood ˈred-ˌwu̇d 

1

: any of various woods (such as brazilwood) yielding a red dye

2

: a tree that yields a red dyewood or produces red or reddish wood

3

a

: a very tall coniferous tree (Sequoia sempervirens) of the bald cypress family that grows chiefly in coastal California, sometimes reaches a height of 360 feet (110 meters), and is a commercially important timber tree

called also coast redwood

see cone illustration compare dawn redwood

b

: its brownish-red durable wood

Examples of redwood in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Dine in the stunning redwoods at Wrights Station on Friday, May 10, for the kickoff to the Taste of Terroir series from the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers. —Laura Ness, The Mercury News, 1 May 2024

The hotel prides itself on its use of local and reclaimed materials, including redwood lumber from the former San Francisco Bridge, and boasts living green elements throughout the building, helping guests get a literal breath of fresh air in every room. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 1 May 2024

Glenn County’s airport was damaged by heavy rain, while Sutter County’s Yuba Fairgrounds were severely damaged when a 15-foot redwood tree fell on a restroom building. —Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2024

Klamath is a sleepy enclave now, but the century-old Requa Inn still bustles with visitors, drawn now by redwoods, trails and river. —Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024

Hike the trails, take in the majesty of this dense, towering redwood forest and snap some photos before moving on. —Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024

More than a century ago, a railroad was constructed to shuttle passengers and redwood logs between San Francisco and Humboldt Bay. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024

Go wine tasting nearby, sleep beneath the redwoods at glamping resort AutoCamp Russian River, and leave time to explore further west. —Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 25 Feb. 2024

Also that year, more than 500 acres of redwood forest in Northern California was returned to the InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council. —Erika D. Smith, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing redwood

• coast redwood
• dawn redwood

Kids Definition

redwood

noun

red·​wood ˈred-ˌwu̇d 

: a tall cone-producing evergreen tree mostly of coastal California that is related to the bald cypresses and sometimes grows to be 360 feet (110 meters) tall

also : its light long-lasting brownish red wood