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Glite Dictionary
Sierra redwood

Sierra redwood

7.6
A very tall evergreen tree that grows in the Sierra Nevada in California and can live for thousands of years
  • noun
  • /ˈsiːərə ˈrɛdˌwʊd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : secuoya de Sierra
  • The Sierra redwood is renowned for reaching heights of over 250 feet.

Examples

  • A single Sierra redwood can live for thousands of years, making it a natural wonder.

  • The Sierra redwood is one of the tallest trees in the world.

  • Many tourists visit California each year just to marvel at the ancient Sierra redwood trees.

  • Look at that Sierra redwood!

  • Many tourists visit California each year just to marvel at the ancient Sierra redwood trees.

  • The Sierra redwood is renowned for reaching heights of over 250 feet.

  • A single Sierra redwood can live for thousands of years, making it a natural wonder.

Synonyms

big tree
vsSierra redwood
  • Specialized
3 3.5

A very tall evergreen tree from California, for example a giant sequoia

is the formal or scientific description rather than a casual label
giant sequoia
vsSierra redwood
  • Specialized
1 5.3

A very large evergreen tree with a very thick trunk that grows on the Sierra Nevada in California

is a common descriptive designation rather than a formal taxonomic term
Sequoia gigantea
vsSierra redwood
  • Specialized
7.5

An extremely tall evergreen tree from California's Sierra Nevada that is the largest living thing by volume

uses a common descriptive name rather than the formal scientific label
Sequoia Wellingtonia
vsSierra redwood
  • Specialized
8.9

A very tall tree that stays green and can live for thousands of years

refers more generally to the species across its broader mountain range

Surface Forms

Sierra redwood singular
Sierra redwoods plural

Morphology

sierra + redwood

The compound is transparently built from 'sierra' (mountain range) + 'redwood' (a type of Californian tree), so a learner who knows both words can infer it denotes a redwood tree associated with the Sierra mountains. This noun+noun naming pattern is compositional and common cross-linguistically, making the basic meaning predictable even if specific botanical details (e.g. giant sequoia) are not known.

Etymology

Sierra redwood comes from the mountain area called Sierra, a word used for a 'mountain range', and the reddish colour of its bark and wood called redwood. So, the name refers to the very tall tree from the Sierra mountains with red-coloured wood.