black locust

noun

: a tall tree (Robinia pseudoacacia) of eastern North America with pinnately compound leaves, drooping racemes of fragrant white flowers, and strong stiff wood

Examples of black locust in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Staff have been refreshing the giant panda exhibit in anticipation of Bao Li and Qing Bao’s arrival, with upgrades like fresh sod, murals depicting mountains, a panda hammock, black locust climbing structures and 40 Giant Panda Cam cameras, per the Washington Post. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Oct. 2024 The backyard is thick with towering black locust trees. Tik Root, WIRED, 30 Mar. 2024 Both are clad with cedar wood shingles and black locust wood siding, and both are equipped with large outdoor decks that expand the interior space further outside. Kimberley Mok, Treehugger, 5 Sep. 2023 The best woods include osage, Oregon yew, white ash, Southern red cedar, black walnut, black locust, apple, and mulberry. Keith McCafferty, Field & Stream, 29 June 2023 Mark McNamara of Conundrum Woodcraft in Gaston has decorative items made from maple, oak, cherry, black walnut, black locust, apple and birch trees sustainably foraged from the Willamette and Columbia river valleys. Jeastman, oregonlive, 9 June 2023 The black locust tree can take in atmospheric nitrogen and convert it to a type more accessible to plants. Elena Shao Maddie McGarvey, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2022 Research suggests that different honeys, derived from bees foraging on black locust tree flowers, sunflowers or a mix of flowers, ward off different types of bacteria. Berly McCoy, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Oct. 2021 This link has the characteristics of the Black Walnut tree, the Oregon ash, the western sumac, and the black locust tree, all of which have similar leaves to the tree of heaven. oregonlive, 9 Oct. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1787, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of black locust was in 1787

Dictionary Entries Near black locust

Cite this Entry

“Black locust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/black%20locust. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on black locust

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!