cottonwood

noun

cot·​ton·​wood ˈkä-tᵊn-ˌwu̇d How to pronounce cottonwood (audio)
: 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
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.
Kloss’ landscape prints deftly, insightfully capture the mountains and streams and gorges and cottonwood trees and snow and atmosphere of the terrain in and around Taos. — Chadd Scott, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025 On the return, the boy spotted a herd of wild horses and broke away from our equine train, chasing them through an open field surrounded by cottonwoods. — Outside Online, 12 Mar. 2025 The space will be anchored by the airport's massive, $3.6 million public artwork — a 60-foot sculpture of a cottonwood tree made of more than 30,000 crystals. — Alayna Alvarez, Axios, 19 Feb. 2025 Now and then, feral horses emerged from the cottonwood trees. — Alastair Lee Bitsóí, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cottonwood

Word History

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cottonwood was in 1802

Rhymes for cottonwood

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“Cottonwood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cottonwood. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

cottonwood

noun
cot·​ton·​wood -ˌwu̇d How to pronounce cottonwood (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on cottonwood

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cottonwood

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