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 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

Although known for their massive size, the root systems of both eucalyptuses and redwoods are shallow. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026

As evergreens, the redwoods remain the same year-round, but the forest's oaks and maples shift with the seasons. —Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2026

Scientists have already sequenced the redwood genome — a massive undertaking given its size, which is nearly nine times larger than the human genome. —ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026

The sunroom features walls of glass and clerestory windows that showcase the expansive backyard, which is surrounded by tall, mature redwood trees that provide both privacy and shade. —David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 6 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing redwood

• coast redwood
• dawn redwood

Rhymes for redwood

• allgood
• basswood
• beechwood
• bellwood
• birchwood
• boxwood
• boyhood
• brushwood
• childhood
• cordwood
• dogwood
• driftwood

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