bald cypress

noun

1
: a large deciduous conifer (Taxodium distichum of the family Taxodiaceae, the bald cypress family) of southern U.S. swamps that has flexible flat needles and is related to the sequoias
also : a related tree (T. mucronatum) of Mexico and southern Texas see cone illustration
2
: the hard red wood of bald cypress that is much used for shingles

Examples of bald cypress in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web During the last ice age, bald cypresses grew in what was then a swamp a hundred miles from the ocean. Veronique Greenwood, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2024 Paddle through the bottomlands and between bald cypress trees covered in Spanish moss over Big Cypress Bayou, or weave through one of the paddling trails across the lake. Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2024 Towering over us at 126 feet was the state champion bald cypress tree. Bob Robinson, Arkansas Online, 19 June 2023 Treehouse Utopia, Texas Located in Texas Hill Country on the banks of the Sabinal River, four tree houses are set among ancient bald cypress trees. Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 22 Aug. 2023 Tall bald cypresses and tupelos stood sentinel, shoulder to shoulder, along the remaining shoreline, shielding the body of water from intruders. Bob Robinson, Arkansas Online, 19 June 2023 Large live oaks and bald cypress seem to be good survivors. Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 31 May 2022 My bald cypress tree is sending up huge roots above the ground. Neil Sperry, San Antonio Express-News, 21 Apr. 2023 Louisiana Louisiana's state tree is the bald cypress. Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bald cypress.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1709, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bald cypress was in 1709

Dictionary Entries Near bald cypress

Cite this Entry

“Bald cypress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bald%20cypress. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bald cypress

noun
: either of two large swamp trees related to the pine and found in the southern U.S.

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