catalpa

noun

ca·​tal·​pa kə-ˈtal-pə How to pronounce catalpa (audio) -ˈtȯl- How to pronounce catalpa (audio)
: any of a genus (Catalpa) of North American and Asian trees of the bignonia family with pale showy flowers in terminal clusters

Examples of catalpa in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The bunny tracks running up from the bramble to the catalpa. Rachel Coye, The Atlantic, 25 Dec. 2023 Among the different varieties going into the aforementioned area are sugar maple, Ohio buckeye, autumn fire hornbeam, musclewood or American hornbeam, northern catalpa, common hackberry, redbud and American hazelnut. John Benson, cleveland, 21 Oct. 2021 For example, catalpa trees, viburnum shrubs and strawberry plants are all susceptible to the fungal disease called verticillium wilt. Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 19 Sep. 2021 Nakamura’s paintings form wreaths of the flora and fauna Nezhukumatathil celebrates in these brief, gemlike essays — catalpa trees. Pamela Miller, Star Tribune, 27 Nov. 2020 Western Springs had a firm do an inventory of all the trees in the village and learned in May the tree, a Northern catalpa, was rated a 5 on a scale of 1 to 6, where 6 is a dead tree. Kimberly Fornek, chicagotribune.com, 27 Aug. 2020 The firm rated the catalpa tree, estimated to be between 80 and 100 years old, on the corner of Prospect and Reid Street as a 5 on a scale of 1 to 6, where 6 is a dead tree. Kimberly Fornek, chicagotribune.com, 6 Aug. 2020 The village continues to plant catalpa trees elsewhere. Kimberly Fornek, chicagotribune.com, 6 Aug. 2020 The one catalpa tree is either blighted or a late bloomer. Lee Durkee, Harper's Magazine, 30 Mar. 2020

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

Word History

Etymology

Creek katáłpa, from iká head + táłpa wing

First Known Use

circa 1730, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of catalpa was circa 1730

Dictionary Entries Near catalpa

Cite this Entry

“Catalpa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catalpa. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

catalpa

noun
ca·​tal·​pa kə-ˈtal-pə How to pronounce catalpa (audio) -ˈtȯl- How to pronounce catalpa (audio)
: any of several trees of North America and Asia with broad oval leaves, showy flowers, and long narrow pods
Etymology

Creek katáłpa "catalpa," from iká "head" and táłpa "wing"

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