Skip to main content
Oregon cedar

Oregon cedar

8.2
A large tree from western North America with strong wood people use for outdoor furniture
  • noun
  • /ˈɔrɪɡən ˈsiːdər/
  • US
translation icon : cedro de Oregón
  • The forest was thick with towering Oregon cedars reaching toward the sky.

Examples

  • Many homes in the Pacific Northwest use Oregon cedar for durable outdoor furniture.

  • Botanists studied the growth patterns of the ancient Oregon cedar in the region.

  • The Oregon cedar is known for its durability.

  • Many Oregon cedars can be found in the Pacific Northwest.

  • The forest was thick with towering Oregon cedar trees reaching toward the sky.

  • Many homes in the Pacific Northwest use Oregon cedar for durable outdoor furniture.

  • Many Oregon cedars can be found in the Pacific Northwest.

Synonyms

Lawson's cedar
vsOregon cedar
  • Specialized
1 7.7

A large evergreen timber tree from western North America that grows very tall

is the same species but named with a different regional common term
Port Orford cedar
vsOregon cedar
  • US
7.4

A large evergreen tree from the Pacific coast with blue green leaves and strong wood

is the identical tree but called by another local common name
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
vsOregon cedar
  • Specialized
9.9

A large evergreen tree like a cedar that is grown for its strong wood and for gardens

is the same species but referred to by a different everyday name
Lawson's cypress
vsOregon cedar
  • Specialized
7.7

A large evergreen tree with a tall straight trunk and strong wood used for building

is the same tree but the term focuses more on common naming differences

How Big

Oregon cedar
  • US
8.2
cedar tree
1 2.8
sapling
16 2.7
seedling
20 2.8

Surface Forms

Oregon cedar singular
Oregon cedars plural

Morphology

Oregon + cedar

The meaning is directly compositional: 'Oregon' specifies the origin/location and 'cedar' names the tree, so 'Oregon cedar' simply denotes a cedar native to or associated with Oregon. This place + noun pattern is common in English and other languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Oregon cedar was named by early settlers who saw very tall trees in the Oregon area and called them the familiar wood 'cedar' because the trees looked and smelled like cedar and gave strong, useful timber. That's why the name now means a large, strong timber tree from western North America.