yew

noun

ˈyü 

1

a

: any of a genus (Taxus of the family Taxaceae, the yew family) of evergreen gymnospermous trees and shrubs with stiff linear leaves and seeds surrounded by a fleshy red aril: such as

(1)

: a long-lived Eurasian tree or shrub (T. baccata)

called also English yew

(2)

: a low straggling bush (T. canadensis) of the eastern U.S. and Canada

(3)

: pacific yew

b

: the wood of a yew

especially : the heavy fine-grained wood of the English yew

2

archaic : an archery bow made of yew

Illustration of yew

• yew 1a

Examples of yew in a Sentence

a bow made of yew

Recent Examples on the Web

The preliminary diagnosis was listed as yew toxicosis. — Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026

Multiple trees of the yew species are vying for the rank of oldest, but scientists have trouble dating them because the trees split into several different hollowed-out trunks that make one tree appear to be several different trees. — Karina Zaiets, USA Today, 19 June 2026

Chemicals in the yew disrupt function of the heart, leading to death by cardiac arrest. — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 16 June 2026

The plant was a Japanese yew, an ornamental that is toxic and deadly to horses, according to the report. — Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 16 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ew, from Old English īw; akin to Old High German īwa yew, Middle Irish eó

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing yew

• English yew
• Pacific yew

Rhymes for yew

• blew
• blue
• boo
• brew
• chew
• chou
• clue
• coo
• coup
• crew
• cue
• dew

Kids Definition

yew

noun

ˈyü 

1

: any of a genus of evergreen trees and shrubs that are gymnosperms with short stiff flattened needlelike leaves and seeds having a red juicy covering

2

: the wood of a yew

especially : the heavy fine-grained wood of an Old World yew that is used especially for bows and small articles

Medical Definition

yew

noun

ˈyü 

: any of a genus (Taxus of the family Taxaceae, the yew family) of evergreen trees and shrubs with stiff linear leaves and seeds surrounded by a fleshy red aril

especially : one (T. brevifolia) of the Pacific coast of the United States and Canada whose bark yields the antineoplastic drug paclitaxel