ponderosa pine

noun

pon·​der·​o·​sa pine ˌpän-də-ˈrō-sə- How to pronounce ponderosa pine (audio)
-zə-
: a tall pine (Pinus ponderosa) of western North America with long needles usually in groups of two or three
also : its strong reddish straight-grained wood

Examples of ponderosa pine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Suggested alternate main hed for curiosity gap: 5 reasons why this northern Arizona city is the best road trip in Arizona Flagstaff is sometimes called the City in the Pines for its ponderosa pine forests. Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 7 Aug. 2024 The entire route is shaded by ponderosa pines and creekside stands of boxelders, locust and oaks with an understory of brambles and wildflowers. Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 26 Sep. 2024 The higher elevations in the park receive twice as much rain as the desert floor, creating a more diverse habitat that includes oaks, maples, and ash trees as well as a few aspens, all mixed in with ponderosa pines and Douglas firs. Graham Averill, Outside Online, 16 Sep. 2024 Set against the greens of the ponderosa pines, an array of deciduous trees splash color all along the route. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 18 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ponderosa pine 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ponderosa pine.' 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

New Latin ponderosa, specific epithet of Pinus ponderosa, from Latin, feminine of ponderosus ponderous

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ponderosa pine was in 1878

Dictionary Entries Near ponderosa pine

Cite this Entry

“Ponderosa pine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ponderosa%20pine. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

ponderosa pine

noun
pon·​der·​o·​sa pine ˌpän-də-ˌrō- sə- How to pronounce ponderosa pine (audio)
-zə-
: a tall timber pine of western North America with long needles in groups of 2 or 3
also : its strong reddish straight-grained wood

More from Merriam-Webster on ponderosa pine

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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