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Lawson's cypress

Lawson's cypress

7.7
A large evergreen tree with a tall straight trunk and strong wood used for building
  • noun
  • /ˈlɔːsənz ˈsaɪprəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ciprés de Lawson
  • The wood of the Lawson's cypress is prized for its durability and resistance to decay.

Examples

  • Several Lawson's cypress trees towered above the forest floor, their trunks stretching high into the sky.

  • Many ornamental gardens in Europe feature Lawson's cypress because of its elegant shape.

  • The Lawson's cypress is often used in landscaping.

  • Many gardeners prefer Lawson's cypress for its beauty.

  • The wood of the Lawson's cypress is prized for its durability and resistance to decay.

  • Several Lawson's cypress trees towered above the forest floor, their trunks stretching high into the sky.

  • Many ornamental gardens in Europe feature Lawson's cypress because of its elegant shape.

Synonyms

Lawson's cedar
vsLawson's cypress
  • Specialized
1 7.7

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

highlights the straight trunk and timber value rather than size
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
vsLawson's cypress
  • Specialized
9.9

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

is a common name emphasizing large size and valuable timber
Port Orford cedar
vsLawson's cypress
  • US
7.4

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

focuses more on the tall straight trunk and timber use
Oregon cedar
vsLawson's cypress
  • US
8.2

A large tree from western North America with strong wood people use for outdoor furniture

mentions valuable timber but not exact extreme size or diameter

How Tall

big tree
  • Specialized
3 3.5
Lawson's cypress
  • Specialized
7.7
tree
1.0
sapling
16 2.7
seedling
20 2.8

Surface Forms

Morphology

Lawson's + cypress

This is a compositional name: 'Lawson's' is a possessive/proper-name modifier and 'cypress' is a tree, so a B1 learner who knows 'cypress' and basic possessive/name+noun patterns will infer it denotes a kind/variety of cypress. Specific details (native range, timber value) are not derivable from the parts, but the core meaning 'a type of cypress tree' is directly predictable from the constituents.

Etymology

Lawson's cypress may come from a plant collector or gardener named Lawson who helped bring the tree to Europe long ago. So the name means 'the cypress that Lawson introduced' and is used for this tall evergreen cypress today.