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

Amazing Mazes British designer Adrian Fisher has created hundreds of mazes around the work – works of art that tantalize and confound those who try to navigate through hedgerows, corn stalks, yew trees, or lights. —David Morgan, CBS News, 25 Oct. 2024

Sticks from yew plants, for example, can be toxic to dogs. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Aug. 2024

None of these species are super fast-growing, but boxwoods and the upright yew varieties are among the slowest. —Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 29 Feb. 2024

For shrubs, consider yew, mahonia, boxwood, and gardenias. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2024

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

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