incense cedar

noun

: a tall tree (Calocedrus decurrens synonym Libocedrus decurrens) of the cypress family found growing from Oregon to Baja California that has reddish-brown bark, scalelike foliage, and light soft aromatic wood
also : its wood

Examples of incense cedar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The second story pole, also hand carved by Beebe from an incense cedar tree and weighing 1,200 pounds, shows a smoke dance with an eagle guarding a family. Jeastman, oregonlive, 28 June 2023 Conditions favored shade-tolerant trees — white fir, red fir and incense cedar — that prefer dense, closed canopies. Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of incense cedar was in 1877

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Cite this Entry

“Incense cedar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incense%20cedar. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

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