cypress

1 of 2

noun (1)

cy·​press ˈsī-prəs 

1

a(1)

: any of a genus (Cupressus of the family Cupressaceae, the cypress family) of evergreen trees and shrubs with small overlapping leaves resembling scales

(2)

: any of several coniferous trees of the cypress family or the bald cypress family

especially : bald cypress sense 1

b

: the wood of a cypress tree

2

: branches of cypress used as a symbol of mourning

cypress

2 of 2

noun (2)

: a silk or cotton usually black gauze formerly used for mourning

Examples of cypress in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Here evergreen ornamentals such as dwarf cypress and Pittosporum alongside burgundy Loropetalum and heuchera create depth and texture with a cohesive flow. —Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024

Traverse its boardwalks through North America’s largest old-growth cypress forest, spotting diverse bird species, including the majestic wood stork. —Jp Shaffer, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024

Each one is an ode to Japanese interior elements, furnished with tatami mats, shoji (panels lined with rice paper) and cypress soaking tubs. —John Wogan, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024

Rooms are supplied with fragrant cypress bathtubs, bamboo handicrafts, and traditional Japanese fabric art. —Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 18 Mar. 2024

The ancient epicontinental sea bordered a forested coastline full of conifers, pines and cypresses. —Santiago Flórez, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2024

The fishing boats moored outside the tavernas are as colorful as the neoclassical houses painted in contrasting shades of burgundy and baby blue, sunflower yellow and dove grey, pale pink and cypress green. —Rachel Howard, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Feb. 2024

Stands of slash pine marched toward cypress domes just beginning to turn amber as fall arrived. —Michael Adno, Rolling Stone, 7 Jan. 2024

While Christmas trees come in all different shapes and sizes, there are also several different varieties — like pine, spruce, cypress — as well. —Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English cipres, from Anglo-French ciprès, from Latin cyparissus, from Greek kyparissos

Noun (2)

Middle English ciprus, cipres, from Cyprus, Mediterranean island

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cypress

• bald cypress
• cypress vine
• Monterey cypress
• summer cypress

Kids Definition

cypress

noun

cy·​press

ˈsī-prəs

1

: any of a genus of evergreen trees and shrubs that are related to the pines and have overlapping scalelike leaves

2

: bald cypress

3

: the wood of a cypress tree

Geographical Definition

Cypress

geographical name

Cy·​press ˈsī-prəs 

city in southwestern California southeast of Los Angeles population 47,802