cottonwood

noun

cot·​ton·​wood ˈkä-tᵊn-ˌwu̇d How to pronounce cottonwood (audio)
: any of several poplars having seeds with cottony hairs
especially : one (Populus deltoides) of the eastern and central U.S. often cultivated for its rapid growth and luxuriant foliage

Examples of cottonwood in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Outside is a large backyard planted with cacti and citrus, apple, plum, cottonwood, and ironwood trees, a swing set, and a special area with rocks and a fountain for desert tortoises; downtown Tucson is a 20-minute drive. The Week Staff, theweek, 6 Mar. 2024 Bald Eagles nest in stands of cottonwoods that line the banks, and Osprey scan the river ahead of us in search of a meal. Kristi Curry Rogers, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2024 The boats are constructed from different kinds of trees—elm, ash, white oak, cottonwood and red oak—reflecting changing environmental conditions. Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 June 2024 The wetland attracts birds, such as coots and tricolored blackbirds, and also recharges the aquifer that the roots of cottonwoods and willows tap into. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for cottonwood 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cottonwood.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cottonwood was in 1802

Dictionary Entries Near cottonwood

Cite this Entry

“Cottonwood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cottonwood. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

cottonwood

noun
cot·​ton·​wood -ˌwu̇d How to pronounce cottonwood (audio)
: a poplar with a small bunch of cottony hairs on the seed
especially : one of the eastern and central U.S. that grows rapidly and produces many leaves

More from Merriam-Webster on cottonwood

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