cypress Hear it!

cypress1 definition

cy·press (sī′prəs)

adjective

designating a family (Cupressaceae) of conifers including the junipers

Etymology: ME cipres < OFr < LL(Ec) cypressus, for L cupressus < Gr kyparissos

noun

  1. any of a genus (Cupressus) of evergreen, cone-bearing trees of the cypress family, native to North America, Europe, and Asia, with dark foliage and a distinctive symmetrical form
  2. any of a number of related trees, including the baldcypress and white cedar
  3. the wood of any of these trees
  4. the branches or sprigs of the cypress, used as a symbol of mourning
cypress2 definition

cy·press (sī′prəs)

noun

any of various textile fabrics, originally made in Cyprus; specif., a fine, gauzelike lawn or silk: in black, it was often worn for mourning

Etymology: ME cipres, after OFr Cipre, Cyprus

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.