tu·le | \ ˈtü-lē 
\
\ plural tules
Definition of tule
1 : any of various large bulrushes especially : a tall sedge (Schoenoplectus acutus synonym Scirpus acutus) of North America that grows in dense stands along freshwater wetlands The roots and seeds of tule, a reed that grows along shorelines and in the shallows, were eaten and the reeds themselves were used to make baskets, cord, sandals and clothing. — Philip Kopper et al.
2 chiefly California : land on which tules are the dominant or characteristic native plant
—usually pluralThis habitat is fed and flooded by Butte Creek and is defined by a matrix of marsh, tules, shallow waterways and uplands with oaks and willows.— Tom Stienstra
Examples of tule in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web Mathisen grabbed his fishing rod and tossed a line in 6-foot-deep water near a cluster of tule.
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Kurtis Alexander, San Francisco Chronicle, "Delta dilemma: fishing or fresh water?," 10 Dec. 2020 Women also made skirts with bark beaten down to a soft texture, or from tule or other grasses along the Colorado River.
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Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, "Native regalia reflects tribal cultures and histories: 'You remember where you come from'," 20 Nov. 2020 Two tule bull elk graze next to cattle in a field along Drake's Beach Road at the Point Reyes National Seashore near Point Reyes Station, Calif., on Sunday, April 12, 2020.
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Peter Fimrite, SFChronicle.com, "At Point Reyes, the contest is elk vs. agriculture. The people vote for the elk," 15 Apr. 2020 Regardless, vast flocks of ducks and geese are still within range of viewing from the driving tour through keyhole slots in the tules along the levee road.
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Tom Stienstra, SFChronicle.com, "Wildlife areas, refuges remain open amid coronavirus shutdowns," 19 Mar. 2020 The 1,300-square-mile network, where the Sacramento, San Joaquin and Mokelumne rivers come together, was once a vast tule marsh teeming with salmon, grizzly bears and other wildlife that provided ample food for American Indians.
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Peter Fimrite, San Francisco Chronicle, "The delta’s sinking islands," 12 Jan. 2020 The Ohlone people of Northern California once tied tule stalks into large bundles to cobble together rudimentary canoes that plied the waters of San Francisco Bay.
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Steve Rubenstein, SFChronicle.com, "Reeds, hands and old ways come together to make Ohlone boat to paddle to Alcatraz," 13 Oct. 2019 Keyholes have been cut in the tules along the route to allow views across the flooded wetlands.
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Tom Stienstra, SFChronicle.com, "More than 1 million waterfowl star in driving tour of Sacramento National Wildlife Complex," 23 Nov. 2019 Find warm water and use crankbaits or jigs on the rocks and Senkos or frogs in the tules.
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sacbee, "Best places to fish right now on Sacramento region waterways," 11 Sep. 2017
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tule.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Time Traveler for tule
The first known use of tule was in 1837
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