Definition of 'yew'

Word Frequency

yew

(juː )

Word forms: plural yews

variable noun

A yew or a yew tree is an evergreen tree. It has sharp leaves which are broad and flat, and red berries.

Yew is the wood of this tree.

Image of
yew

yew in British English

(juː )

noun

any coniferous tree of the genus Taxus, of the Old World and North America, esp T. baccata, having flattened needle-like leaves, fine-grained elastic wood, and solitary seeds with a red waxy aril resembling berries: family Taxaceae

the wood of any of these trees, used to make bows for archery

3. archery

a bow made of yew

Word origin

Old English īw; related to Old High German īwa, Old Norse ӯr yew, Latin ūva grape, Russian iva willow

Word Frequency

yew in American English

(ju )

noun

any of a genus (Taxus) of evergreen shrubs and trees of the yew family, having red, cuplike, waxy cones containing a single seed, broad, flattened leaves that are needles, and fine-grained, elastic wood

the wood, used esp. for making archers' bows

2. Archaic

an archer's bow of yew

adjective

designating a family (Taxaceae) of resinous evergreen conifers with needlelike leaves, including ground hemlock

Word origin

ME ew < OE iw, eow, akin to Ger eibe (OHG iwa) < IE *(e)iwā- < base *ei-, reddish > L uva, grape: orig. name because of color of the wood

Example sentences including
yew

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

The same applies to yew and box hedges.But he had no memory of any yew tree in the grounds. Box and yew topiary is particularly suitable for tiny spaces as it provides form and greenery all year round.They'll also provide screening while the yew and box plants are getting established.On yew trees, the first male flowers are appearing beneath the dark green leaves.In the music gardens, box and yew shapes form the symbolic patterns of notes and musical instruments.To find the Centre turn right down the hill just before the yew wood at the south end.A yew tree lost in the build has been turned into a curved bookcase and a mottled sliding door.The whole yew tree is poisonous, except for the pulp of the fleshy red berries that adorn it in autumn.She asked me to make a garden of dark green with lots of clipped yew trees and one which would recall Rome.

Word lists with
yew

tree, wood

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

Score: 0 / 5

Which tree am I?

any plant of the liliaceous genus Aloe, chiefly native to southern Africa, with fleshy spiny-toothed leaves and red or yellow flowers

aloe horse chestnut walnut

Which tree am I?

either of two giant Californian coniferous trees, Sequoia sempervirens (redwood) or Sequoiadendron giganteum (formerly Sequoia gigantea) (big tree or giant sequoia): family Taxodiaceae

juniper redwood sequoia

Which tree am I?

any of various tropical and subtropical trees of the genus Diospyros, esp D. ebenum of S India, that have hard dark wood: family Ebenaceae

ebony persimmon rosewood

Which tree am I?

any juglandaceous deciduous tree of the genus Juglans, of America, SE Europe, and Asia, esp J. regia, which is native to W Asia but introduced elsewhere. They have aromatic leaves and flowers in catkins and are grown for their edible nuts and for their wood

Antarctic beech aspen walnut

Which tree am I?

any of various cornaceous trees or shrubs of the genus Cornus, esp C. sanguinea, a European shrub with clusters of small white flowers and black berries: the shoots are red in winter

dogwood elder mountain ash

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