cottonwood

noun

cot·​ton·​wood ˈkä-tᵊn-ˌwu̇d 

: 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

Little Shoal Creek: Flowing from a spring guarded by a giant cottonwood near West 24th and Nueces streets in the West Campus neighborhood, this creek once continued down the low-lying stretches Neuces Street and joined Shoal Creek not far from West Third and Rio Grande streets. —Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 10 Jan. 2024

In the Arizona high country or along riparian areas, cottonwood, ash, aspen and other deciduous trees grow and, come fall, drop their leaves. —Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 23 Oct. 2024

In higher elevations, the alpine tundra turns purple and deep red; throughout the park, aspen and cottonwood trees don their golds and oranges ahead of winter. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2024

This region is particularly beautiful in the fall, when the leaves of willow, cottonwood, and aspen trees change color. —Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cottonwood

noun

cot·​ton·​wood -ˌwu̇d 

: 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