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

That led to many visits to the cypress forest that rests on the border of Texas and Louisiana ahead of the movie shooting in late 2021 and 2022 in and around Karnak, Texas. —Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Sep. 2024

The sparsely populated region is loved for its natural wonders – the vast stretches of salt marshes, tidal pools, and barrier islands; the dwarf cypress trees of Tate’s Hell State Forest; and Wakulla Springs, considered one of the world’s largest and deepest freshwater springs. —Heather Hollingsworth and Stephen Smith, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Sep. 2024

The entire home is wrapped by a covered porch featuring cypress ceilings and fans for taking the edge off Florida’s sweltering heat and humidity. —Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 14 Sep. 2024

In New Orleans, the din of portable generators was the soundtrack across much of the city Thursday as entire neighborhoods lost power, and streets were blocked by debris and downed oak and cypress trees. —Corky Siemaszko, NBC News, 13 Sep. 2024

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