Joshua tree

noun

: a tall branched arborescent yucca (Yucca brevifolia) of arid regions of the southwestern U.S. that has clustered greenish-white flowers

Illustration of Joshua tree

Illustration of joshua tree

Examples of Joshua tree in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Related article Iconic Joshua trees burned by massive wildfire in Mojave Desert Two recent fires in California’s Mojave National Preserve are perfect examples, Mahood said. Eric Zerkel, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024 Advertisement Stealing a Joshua tree could now cost you $20,000 in San Bernardino County May 25, 2022 The Compton restaurant is one of five locations owned by Castellon’s wife’s family. Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2024 California’s Joshua trees look like something out of a Dr. Seuss book, resembling a cross between a cactus and a palm tree. Liz Kreutz, NBC News, 13 Dec. 2023 The property sits on 50 acres dotted with Joshua trees. Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2023 There were toppled Joshua trees in the Mojave Desert and dead endangered birds on park roads, former parks officials said. Jack Healy, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2023 Per the listing, which is held by Frank Sullivan and Jimmy Quill of Coldwell Banker Realty, there’s even a 1,000-year-old Joshua tree on the property. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 5 Sep. 2023 Columnist Steve Lopez considers the depopulation of Joshua trees caused by heat and fire, and the wider threat to the Mojave desert ecosystem. Russ Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2023 Extreme heat, drought and fires are devastating Joshua trees — and even this winter’s rains didn’t help much, columnist Steve Lopez learned on a trip to the desert. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2023

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

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Joshua tree was in 1884

Dictionary Entries Near Joshua tree

Cite this Entry

“Joshua tree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Joshua%20tree. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Joshua tree

noun
: a tall branched yucca of the southwestern U.S. with short leaves and clusters of greenish white flowers

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