: any of a genus (Ulmus of the family Ulmaceae, the elm family) of usually large deciduous north temperate-zone trees with alternate stipulate leaves and fruit that is a samara
2
: the wood of an elm
Illustration of elm
elm 1
Examples of elm in a Sentence
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At the end of the 2200 block, a massive elm tree laid across the street and six volunteers worked to chop it into smaller pieces with chain saws.—Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Money, 19 May 2025 The organization expects that in the future, species that require at least 20 inches of annual rainfall could perish (some, like the Montezuma cypress and cedar elm, are already dying).—Laura Mallonee, Wired News, 12 Apr. 2025 Flower and vegetable gardens, oaks, redwoods and elms.—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2025 Meanwhile, experts say some native trees—including hemlock, elm and beech—are struggling in the city.—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for elm
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German elme elm, Latin ulmus
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of elm was
before the 12th century
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