1
: any of a genus (Abies) of north temperate evergreen trees of the pine family that have flattish leaves, circular leaf scars, and erect female cones and are valued for their wood
also : any of various conifers (such as the Douglas fir) of other genera
2
: the wood of a fir

Examples of fir in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web An elegant fir pre-strung with clear lights will never go out of style. Clint Davis, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2024 Taiyo Watanabe The architect crafted another key transitional element with the Seattle Public Library–inspired yellow staircase and its fir plank screen that balances privacy and sight lines. Morgan Goldberg, Architectural Digest, 4 Oct. 2024 It's beautifully designed, with a spacious terrace that overlooks a verdant valley dotted with fir trees. Ann Lee, theweek, 5 Sep. 2024 In the entry, Lisa and team maintained the old fir floors and all the antique light fixtures. Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 3 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fir 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fir.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English fyrh; akin to Old High German forha fir, Latin quercus oak

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fir was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near fir

Cite this Entry

“Fir.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fir. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

fir

noun
1
: any of various usually large evergreen trees related to the pines some of which yield useful lumber or resins
2
: the wood of a fir

Medical Definition

fir

noun
: any tree of the genus Abies see balsam fir

More from Merriam-Webster on fir

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