tupelo

noun tu·pe·lo \ ˈtü-pə-ˌlō , ˈtyü- \

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

Definition of tupelo

plural tupelos

1 : any of a genus (Nyssa of the family Nyssaceae) of North American and Asian deciduous trees that have simple alternate leaves, small usually greenish-white dioecious flowers, and a rounded drupe; especially : black gum

2 : the pale soft wood of a tupelo

Recent Examples of tupelo from the Web

The 163-mile pipeline project runs across the Atchafalaya River basin, which includes fragile cypress-tupelo swamps.

— mark schleifstein, NOLA.com, "Corps was 'arbitrary and capricious' in granting Bayou Bridge pipeline permit: federal judge," 28 Feb. 2018
But Tonsmeire spots plants that tolerate salt water too far upstream, and remembers the loss of tupelo trees.

— robert barnes, Washington Post, "On Florida’s ‘Forgotten Coast,’ a Supreme Court fight over fresh water," 7 Jan. 2018
But Tonsmeire spots plants that tolerate salt water too far upstream, and remembers the loss of tupelo trees.

— robert barnes, Washington Post, "On Florida’s ‘Forgotten Coast,’ a Supreme Court fight over fresh water," 7 Jan. 2018
That includes freshwater wetlands, cypress and tupelo swamps and other types of natural resource restoration.

— mark schleifstein, NOLA.com, "Environmental groups sue Corps to block Bayou Bridge pipeline permit," 11 Jan. 2018
But Tonsmeire spots plants that tolerate salt water too far upstream, and remembers the loss of tupelo trees.

— robert barnes, Washington Post, "On Florida’s ‘Forgotten Coast,’ a Supreme Court fight over fresh water," 7 Jan. 2018
But Tonsmeire spots plants that tolerate salt water too far upstream, and remembers the loss of tupelo trees.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "On Florida's 'Forgotten Coast,' a Supreme Court fight over fresh water," 8 Jan. 2018
Nurseries donated other plants, including 58 tupelo trees, each one representing a person lost in the attack.

— anita snow, The Christian Science Monitor, "Las Vegas community creates a garden to mourn and heal," 18 Oct. 2017
Nurseries donated other plants, including 58 tupelo trees, each one representing a person lost in the attack.

— anita snow, The Christian Science Monitor, "Las Vegas community creates a garden to mourn and heal," 18 Oct. 2017

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