cottonwood
UK: ˈkɒtənwʊd | US: ˈkɑːtənwʊd
n. A type of poplar tree (genus Populus) with cotton-like seeds, commonly found near rivers in North America.
n. The soft, lightweight wood of this tree, used for carving or pulp.
The word "cottonwood" combines "cotton" (referring to the tree’s fluffy, cotton-like seed fibers) and "wood" (its material or arboreal nature). The name vividly describes the tree’s distinctive seed dispersal mechanism, which resembles floating cotton. This compound structure emerged in Early Modern English (16th–17th century), reflecting descriptive naming conventions for flora.
The cottonwood trees along the riverbank shed their fluffy seeds in early summer.
Native Americans used cottonwood bark for carving ceremonial masks.
The lightweight wood of the cottonwood is ideal for making paper pulp.
A breeze carried cottonwood seeds across the field like snow.
The old cottonwood provided shade for the picnic area.