cottonwood

/ˌkɑtnˈwʊd/

/ˈkɒtənwʊd/

Other forms: cottonwoods

Definitions of cottonwood

1. noun

   any of several North American trees of the genus Populus having a tuft of cottony hairs on the seed
   types:

   Eastern cottonwood, Populus deltoides, necklace poplar

   a common poplar of eastern and central United States; cultivated in United States for its rapid growth and luxuriant foliage and in Europe for timber

   Populus trichocarpa, Western balsam poplar, black cottonwood

   cottonwood of western North America with dark green leaves shining above and rusty or silvery beneath

   Populus heterophylla, black cottonwood, downy poplar, swamp cottonwood, swamp poplar

   North American poplar with large rounded scalloped leaves and brownish bark and wood

   type of:

   poplar, poplar tree

   any of numerous trees of north temperate regions having light soft wood and flowers borne in catkins
2. noun

   American basswood of the Allegheny region
   synonyms: Tilia heterophylla, white basswood

   type of:

   basswood, lime, lime tree, linden, linden tree

   any of various deciduous trees of the genus Tilia with heart-shaped leaves and drooping cymose clusters of yellowish often fragrant flowers; several yield valuable timber