tupelo

noun

tu·​pe·​lo ˈtü-pə-ˌlō 

ˈtyü-

plural tupelos

1

: any of a genus (Nyssa of the family Nyssaceae) of North American and Asian deciduous trees that have simple alternate leaves, small usually greenish-white dioecious flowers, and a rounded drupe

especially : black gum

2

: the pale soft wood of a tupelo

Examples of tupelo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Overhead some osprey, a hawk and a bald eagle glided among the nearby tupelo, sweet gum and oak-hackberry forest trees. —Ricky Carioti, Washington Post, 5 July 2024

For a street tree, a Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata) or black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) would be appropriate. —Tovah Martin, Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2023

Also called tupelo, black gum is a fast grower that doesn’t mind swampy areas. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, 21 July 2023

Future park visitors will be able to rest on the bench in the shade of two tupelo trees and enjoy the view. —Mary Jane Brewer, cleveland, 28 Sep. 2022

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from Creek *topiló, from etó tree + piló:(fa), opiló:(fa) swamp

First Known Use

circa 1730, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Geographical Definition

Tupelo

geographical name

Tu·​pe·​lo ˈtü-pə-ˌlō 

ˈtyü-

city in northeastern Mississippi population 34,546

Note: Singer Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo in 1935.