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elm tree

elm tree

3 2.1
A large tree with broad leaves and strong wood often planted in parks and streets for shade
  • noun
  • /ɛlm tri/
translation icon : olmo
  • I watched David through the bare branches of the elm tree.
  • a big elm tree
  • an old elm tree
  • huge elm trees

Examples

  • Our camp was shaded by some of the largest elm trees on earth—up to eleven feet in diameter.

    Academic text (1995)
  • We planted that elm tree in the backyard.

  • The buds on the elm tree outside the living room windows were opening.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Next to the house, the bare elm trees blew and tossed in the wind.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The great frame houses were hushed and clean; the boulevard was lined with elm trees.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • I have watched squirrels peeking out of hollows in the trunk of an elm tree across from my window.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • In our backyard, we have a majestic elm tree that provides plenty of shade during the summer.

  • The park is filled with beautiful elm trees that change color in the autumn, creating a picturesque scene.

  • He often sits under the large elm tree in the garden to read and enjoy the cool breeze.

Synonyms

elm
vselm tree
16 1.6

A large tree with broad leaves that gives shade

is the everyday term used for that same genus rather than a single species
Chinese elm
vselm tree
1 4.1

A fast-growing tree from Asia with small leaves often planted for shade or as a garden tree

is the general genus term, not this specific fast-growing Asian species
American elm
vselm tree
  • US
1 4.6

A large shade tree from eastern North America with wide, arching branches

is the general term for the genus, not that specific ornamental species
rock elm
vselm tree
  • US
7.0

A large tree from eastern North America with very strong wood and a graceful shape

is the general genus term not limited to unusually strong wood specimens
Ulmus rubra
vselm tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A North American elm tree with rough, reddish young leaves and hard wood

is the broad genus name, not a single species noted specifically for hard wood
red elm
vselm tree
  • US
6.9

A North American elm tree with red leaves or bark and hard, strong wood

is the general genus label rather than that specific regional timber type
slippery elm
vselm tree
  • Specialized
8.1

A North American tree with rough leaves whose inner bark is used in medicine

is the genus name focusing on timber and shade rather than medicinal bark
Ulmus americana
vselm tree
  • Specialized
8.2

A large tree that loses its leaves with wide graceful branches often planted in parks for shade

is the general genus term broader than that single regional species
white elm
vselm tree
  • US
6.4

A large tree from eastern North America with wide branches that give good shade

is the general genus name not confined to this regional form
Ulmus laevis
vselm tree
  • Specialized
9.9

An elm tree from Europe and Asia that grows near rivers and in wet soil

is the general genus name rather than that similar Eurasian species
Ulmus glabra
vselm tree
  • Specialized
8.9

A large elm tree often planted in parks and gardens for shade

is the general genus term used for timber and shade broadly
wych elm
vselm tree
  • UK
9.5

A large tree from Europe and Asia with broad leaves often grown for shade

is the overall genus name not limited to that broad-leaved species
Ulmus procera
vselm tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A large European elm tree with wide branches and rough leaves

is the general genus name not specific to that European form
English elm
vselm tree
6.0

A tall, broad tree with many leaves often planted in parks in Europe

is the general genus term rather than that commonly planted European species
European field elm
vselm tree
  • UK
7.1

A European tree with shiny leaves that people plant for decoration

is the broad genus name not restricted to smooth-leaved variants
European elm
vselm tree
  • UK
3.6

A broad, spreading tree with rough leaves that grows naturally in Europe and is often planted in parks

is the general genus label focusing on timber and shade rather than region
Ulmus carpinifolia
vselm tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A European elm tree with shiny smooth leaves often grown for parks and gardens

is the general genus designation rather than this ornamental leaf type
smooth-leaved elm
vselm tree
7.5

A European tree with shiny smooth leaves often planted for decoration

is the general genus label, not focused on shiny foliage
Ulmus hollandica
vselm tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A hybrid European elm tree grown to give shade and look nice

is the generic genus name not restricted to hybrid ornamental groups
Ulmus hollandica vegetata
vselm tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A tall hybrid elm tree grown for its attractive shape and leaves

is the general genus term rather than that specific cultivated hybrid
Dutch elm
vselm tree
7.0

A tree from two kinds of elm grown for shade in parks and gardens

is the general genus label, not a particular hybrid origin or size range
Huntingdon elm
vselm tree
8.4

A tall elm tree grown for its pretty shape and leaves

is the general genus term not limited to that cultivated hybrid
Ulmus campestris wheatleyi
vselm tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A tree with upright branches and broader leaves than other elms

is the general genus term, not this narrower ornamental variety
Ulmus campestris sarniensis
vselm tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A type of elm tree with upright branches and broad leaves grown in gardens

is the genus name, not this specific cultivated form
Ulmus sarniensis
vselm tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A type of English elm tree with upright branches and broader leaves

is the general genus label rather than that particular variety
witch elm
vselm tree
  • UK
8.8

A European elm tree with wide branches used for shade

is the broader genus term not confined to that European species
Ulmus serotina
vselm tree
  • Specialized
9.9

An elm tree that grows in the southeastern United States and flowers in autumn

is the general genus term and does not emphasize autumn flowering
Ulmus thomasii
vselm tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A tall elm tree from eastern North America with strong wood used for furniture

is the generic genus name rather than this tall regional species
wing elm
vselm tree
  • US
9.6

A North American tree with rough, thick bumps on its branches that look like wings

is the broader genus label not focused on corky branch features
winged elm
vselm tree
  • US
9.1

A North American tree with thick ridges on its small branches and new growth

is the genus term, not the specific species with corky growths
Ulmus alata
vselm tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A North American elm tree with small leaves and corky wings on its branches

is the genus label rather than this corky-branched species
Ulmus crassifolia
vselm tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A type of elm from the southern United States and Mexico with drooping branches and rough ridges like cork

is the general genus term not limited to southern corky-branch forms
cedar elm
vselm tree
  • US
8.2

A medium-sized tree with rough corky bark and drooping branches

is the broad genus name not specific to this southern branch form
Ulmus parvifolia
vselm tree
  • Specialized
9.1

A small fast-growing tree from East Asia used for shade and hedges

is the general genus term that covers many sizes, not only hedging forms
Ulmus pumila
vselm tree
  • Specialized
9.3

A small, fast-growing bushy elm tree from Asia often planted for shade or decoration

is the general genus term not limited to shrubby, shelter uses
Siberian elm
vselm tree
  • US
6.8

A fast-growing Asian tree used for wind shelter and city planting

is the genus name, not particular to this fast-growing introduced species
dwarf elm
vselm tree
  • Specialized
5.8

A small Asian tree with many branches and small leaves that grows quickly and makes a good windbreak in gardens

is the general genus term not restricted to small shrubby cultivars

How Big

European elm
  • UK
3.6
elm tree
3 2.1
sapling
16 2.7
seedling
20 2.8

Surface Forms

elm tree singular
elm trees plural

Morphology

elm + tree

The meaning 'a tree of the genus Ulmus' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'elm' (a specific kind of tree) with 'tree' (a tall perennial plant); it is a straightforward noun + noun type-labeling compound. This compositional pattern is cross-linguistically common and follows regular English compounding, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

Elm tree gets its name from the old local word for this kind of tree; people long ago remembered the elm for its very strong wood and the tree for its wide branches that gave cool shade. That's why elm tree today means a tall, sturdy tree often planted for shade and strong wood.