lodgepole pine

noun

lodge·​pole pine ˈläj-ˌpōl- How to pronounce lodgepole pine (audio)
: any of several pines of western North America with needles in pairs and short ovoid usually asymmetric cones: such as
a
: a small chiefly coastal pine (Pinus contorta var. contorta) with thick deeply furrowed bark and hard strong coarse-grained medium-light wood
b
: a tall straight pine (P. contorta var. latifolia) with thin and little furrowed bark and soft weak fine-grained lightweight wood

Examples of lodgepole pine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Unlike species such as giant sequoias and lodgepole pine that drop their seeds in fire, the dominant pines of the Sierra can’t reproduce if their seeds burn. Manzanita and mountain whitethorn — chaparral typical at lower elevations in California — take root in ashes and can dominate the forest. Brian Melley, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2023 The distinctive light green of aspen leaves in summer, set off from the deep greens of conifers such as lodgepole pines, frequently marks the zones where winter snow is unstable and tends to avalanche. Michael C Grant, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 Several of its common species, like black spruce, and jack and lodgepole pines, cannot procreate without fire. Carolyn Kormann, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2023 The lodgepole pine, for instance, begins producing viable seeds at 5 to 10 years old. Kristen Pope, Discover Magazine, 20 Dec. 2018 Traffic patterns aside, Tioga Road’s reopening is a relief for high country lovers eager for easy access to the subalpine meadows and blue lakes nestled between granite domes and towering lodgepole pines. Cari Spencer, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2023 Named Hidden Hollow Ranch, the rustic mansion was built in 2011 from twisted, lodgepole pine shipped in from the Northern Rockies. The Indianapolis Star, 21 Jan. 2023 So far, the government’s Icelandic Forest Service and other forestry groups have had success with the country’s native birch as well as foreign trees that can adapt to the country’s frequently wet and windy climate, including Siberian larch, lodgepole pine, and black cottonwood. Sarah Todd, Quartz, 12 July 2022 The similarities in age were significant because all the wood studied came from trees — likely lodgepole pine — that would have been growing during the 13th or 14th century, which was a period of severe regional drought all over the western United States. Mike Koshmrl, chicagotribune.com, 26 Oct. 2020

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

1859, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lodgepole pine was in 1859

Dictionary Entries Near lodgepole pine

Cite this Entry

“Lodgepole pine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lodgepole%20pine. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lodgepole pine

noun
lodge·​pole pine ˌläj-ˌpōl- How to pronounce lodgepole pine (audio)
: any of several western North American pines with needles in pairs and short cones

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