: any of a genus (Ulmus of the family Ulmaceae, the elm family) of usually large deciduous north temperate-zone trees with alternate stipulate leaves and fruit that is a samara
2
: the wood of an elm
Illustration of elm
elm 1
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The most devastating example was Dutch elm disease which came into the United States in the 1930s in infected logs, then killed majestic American elms that lined city streets across the eastern half of the country.—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2025 The downy woodpecker eats the beetles that cause Dutch elm disease, as well as the emerald ash borer, which is wreaking havoc on our native ashes.—Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025 By comparison, woods like cottonwood, willows, pines and American elm burn faster and put out less heat in the process.—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2025 Then, in 2005, Benenson did it again — killing four trees, including an English elm that dated to the park’s original 1844 plantings.—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 29 July 2024 See All Example Sentences for elm
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German elme elm, Latin ulmus
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of elm was
before the 12th century
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