-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
catalpa
noun
ca·tal·pa
kə-ˈtal-pə
-ˈtȯl-
: any of a genus (Catalpa) of North American and Asian trees of the bignonia family with pale showy flowers in terminal clusters
Examples of catalpa in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The bunny tracks running up from the bramble to the
catalpa.
—Rachel Coye, The Atlantic, 25 Dec. 2023
Among the different varieties going into the aforementioned area are sugar maple, Ohio buckeye, autumn fire hornbeam, musclewood or American hornbeam, northern catalpa, common hackberry, redbud and American hazelnut.
—John Benson, cleveland, 21 Oct. 2021
For example, catalpa trees, viburnum shrubs and strawberry plants are all susceptible to the fungal disease called verticillium wilt.
—Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 19 Sep. 2021
Nakamura’s paintings form wreaths of the flora and fauna Nezhukumatathil celebrates in these brief, gemlike essays — catalpa trees.
—Pamela Miller, Star Tribune, 27 Nov. 2020
Western Springs had a firm do an inventory of all the trees in the village and learned in May the tree, a Northern catalpa, was rated a 5 on a scale of 1 to 6, where 6 is a dead tree.
—Kimberly Fornek, chicagotribune.com, 27 Aug. 2020
The firm rated the catalpa tree, estimated to be between 80 and 100 years old, on the corner of Prospect and Reid Street as a 5 on a scale of 1 to 6, where 6 is a dead tree.
—Kimberly Fornek, chicagotribune.com, 6 Aug. 2020
The village continues to plant catalpa trees elsewhere.
—Kimberly Fornek, chicagotribune.com, 6 Aug. 2020
The one catalpa tree is either blighted or a late bloomer.
—Lee Durkee, Harper's Magazine, 30 Mar. 2020
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Creek katáłpa, from iká head + táłpa wing
First Known Use
circa 1730, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near catalpa
Cite this Entry
“Catalpa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catalpa. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
catalpa
noun
ca·tal·pa
kə-ˈtal-pə
-ˈtȯl-
: any of several trees of North America and Asia with broad oval leaves, showy flowers, and long narrow pods
Etymology
Creek katáłpa "catalpa," from iká "head" and táłpa "wing"
More from Merriam-Webster on catalpa
Nglish: Translation of catalpa for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about catalpa
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share