poplar

noun

pop·​lar ˈpä-plər 

1

a

: any of a genus (Populus) of slender catkin-bearing quick-growing deciduous trees (such as an aspen or cottonwood) of the willow family

b

: the wood of a poplar

2

: tulip tree sense 1

Examples of poplar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Available in four sizes, two depths, and different colors, these are made of poplar topped with stain. —Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 18 Oct. 2024

Other kinds of wood could work, too, but poplar is an especially soft one, and your task is to trim it into thin planes. —Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2024

The featherlight, lightly tapered directional powder craft sports a medium-soft poplar and paulownia core, bolstered by two parallel strips of shock-absorbing, ollie-enhancing interwoven flax and aramid fibers. —Drew Zieff, Outside Online, 27 Sep. 2024

The rooftop greenhouse where the pair is cultivating some of the poplars and eucalyptuses for their experiments is so bright that at the door there is a box of sunglasses for visitors. —Dino Grandoni, Washington Post, 1 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English popler, from Anglo-French, from Old French *pople poplar, from Latin populus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing poplar

• balsam poplar
• Lombardy poplar
• tulip poplar
• yellow poplar

Kids Definition

poplar

noun

pop·​lar ˈpäp-lər 

1

: any of a genus of slender quick-growing trees (as an aspen or cottonwood) that have catkins for flowers and are related to the willows

2

: the wood of a poplar

Geographical Definition

Poplar

geographical name

Pop·​lar ˈpä-plər 

former metropolitan borough of eastern London, England, on the northern bank of the Thames River that is now part of the borough of Tower Hamlets