conifer

noun

co·​ni·​fer ˈkä-nə-fər How to pronounce conifer (audio)
 also  ˈkō-
: any of an order (Coniferales) of mostly evergreen trees and shrubs having usually needle-shaped or scalelike leaves and including forms (such as pines) with true cones and others (such as yews) with an arillate fruit
coniferous adjective

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Any of an order of trees and shrubs, conifers usually have usually needle-shaped or scale-like leaves. Conifers include forms (such as pines) with true cones and others (such as yews) that bear a fruit. There are more than 550 species of conifers, and most are evergreen trees and shrubs. They grow throughout the world (except in Antarctica) and prefer temperate climate zones. They include the world's smallest and tallest trees. Conifers supply softwood timber used for general construction, boxes and crates, and other articles, as well as pulpwood for paper. The wood is also used as fuel and in the manufacture of cellulose products, plywood, and veneers. The trees are the source of resins, oils, turpentine, tars, and pharmaceuticals.

Examples of conifer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Felled logs of the ancient conifer species that have since been named Araucarioxylon arizonicum by humans, but which bedecked these lands before the time of dinosaurs, glint in the sunlight in their modern, crystal form. The Arizona Republic, 24 Jan. 2024 The canyon sides were steep and sandy; the sun was hot and the wind was bending the tall conifers. John Riha, Discover Magazine, 12 Nov. 2023 So the hunt is on for the tallest, straightest, knot-free conifers, which are peeled, dried and pressure-treated at facilities such as Koppers Holdings’ KOP 2.25%increase; green up pointing triangle pole plant in southeastern Georgia’s pinelands. Ryan Dezember, WSJ, 9 Nov. 2023 For the new study to corroborate the results, the team first turned to pollen evidence from land plants—conifer trees—that was collected from the same layers as the original seeds, just above and below the prints in several different sets of tracks. Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Oct. 2023 Make sure to keep this container garden watered, then plant these conifers in your garden when spring arrives. Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2023 Share [Findings] The world’s oldest bamboo fossil turned out to be a conifer. Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 17 Jan. 2024 The conifers are especially resistant to droughts, a hazard growing more common and more severe due to climate change. James Pollard, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Dec. 2023 Over the last half-century, San Diego has recycled more than 100 million pounds of the conifers in the weeks just after Christmas. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'conifer.' 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

ultimately from Latin conifer cone-bearing, from conus cone + -fer

First Known Use

circa 1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of conifer was circa 1841

Dictionary Entries Near conifer

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

conifer

noun
con·​i·​fer
ˈkän-ə-fər,
 also  ˈkō-nə-
: any of an order of mostly evergreen trees and shrubs having leaves resembling needles or scales in shape and including forms (as pines) with true cones

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