great plains cottonwood

noun

: a poplar (Populus sargentii) of central North America with coriaceous coarsely serrate leaves commonly broader than they are long

Word History

Etymology

from the Great Plains, the continental slope of central North America

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!