dogwood

noun

dog·​wood ˈdȯg-ˌwu̇d How to pronounce dogwood (audio)
: any of various trees and shrubs (genus Cornus of the family Cornaceae, the dogwood family) with clusters of small flowers and often large white, pink, or red involucral bracts

Examples of dogwood in a Sentence

The furniture is made of dogwood.
Recent Examples on the Web The lodge is open year-round but shines in the spring when the vibrant dogwood blossoms coat the trees. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2024 And the cast bronze basins of drinking fountains are based on dogwood leaves and blossoms. Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024 Dates have not been released for 2024, but typically, the Missouri dogwoods begin to bloom in mid-April and start to fade in early May. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2024 The plant display ranges from desert cactuses to high mountain dogwood. Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024 Incorporated in the suit design were the Kentucky state flower, a golden rod, the state tree, tulip poplar, wild roses, redbuds, dogwoods, and tobacco leaves. Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 9 Feb. 2024 The horizontal branching and unique vase-like shape of this type of dogwood are especially appealing qualities. Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, 13 Mar. 2023 On it, naturalists regale tourists with stories of the flora and fauna, including the Jamaica dogwood or fish-poison tree, which Native Americans used to use as a mild toxin to sedate and catch fish. Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2024 Japanese honeysuckle, dewberry, dogwood, blackberry cane, and Oregon grape are all examples of regional species that are highly favored by deer—and most of them can last well into the winter. Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 4 Jan. 2024

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

1598, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dogwood was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near dogwood

Cite this Entry

“Dogwood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dogwood. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dogwood

noun
dog·​wood ˈdȯg-ˌwu̇d How to pronounce dogwood (audio)
: any of various trees and shrubs having clusters of small flowers often surrounded by four showy leaves that look like petals

Medical Definition

dogwood

noun
dog·​wood ˈdȯ-ˌgwu̇d How to pronounce dogwood (audio)
: any tree or shrub of the genus Cornus

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