conifer
noun
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Any of an order of trees and shrubs, conifers usually have usually needle-shaped or scale-like leaves. Conifers include forms (such as pines) with true cones and others (such as yews) that bear a fruit. There are more than 550 species of conifers, and most are evergreen trees and shrubs. They grow throughout the world (except in Antarctica) and prefer temperate climate zones. They include the world's smallest and tallest trees. Conifers supply softwood timber used for general construction, boxes and crates, and other articles, as well as pulpwood for paper. The wood is also used as fuel and in the manufacture of cellulose products, plywood, and veneers. The trees are the source of resins, oils, turpentine, tars, and pharmaceuticals.
Examples of conifer in a Sentence
Matt Kracht, People.com, 11 Mar. 2025
Between 84 million and 137 million years ago, resin-oozing conifers thrived across the planet.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Feb. 2025
The highlands are home to rare flora and fauna, many of which depend on old-growth conifers or volcanic habitats.
—Tom Howarth, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025
These trees are typically evergreen conifers, but several different species are popular for decking out in merrily twinkling lights and shiny baubles.
—Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Conifer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conifer. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
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