redwood

noun

red·​wood ˈred-ˌwu̇d 

1

: any of various woods (such as brazilwood) yielding a red dye

2

: a tree that yields a red dyewood or produces red or reddish wood

3

a

: a very tall coniferous tree (Sequoia sempervirens) of the bald cypress family that grows chiefly in coastal California, sometimes reaches a height of 360 feet (110 meters), and is a commercially important timber tree

called also coast redwood

see cone illustration compare dawn redwood

b

: its brownish-red durable wood

Examples of redwood in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Advertisement This reach along the sacred waterway, with its oak and redwood forests and rocky outcroppings, was where the Shasta had harvested elderberries and currants, hunted for deer and used wild pumpkin root to lure salmon into their nets. —Tyrone Beason, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2024

And then there are the epically beautiful inland landscapes containing glittering rivers, forested trails, and stalwart old-growth redwoods. —Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2024

Known for its otherworldly cliffs, striking beaches, redwood forests, and Pacific Ocean views, Big Sur has also served as inspiration for some of the most prolific writers of the 20th century. —Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 17 June 2024

Your sleepover includes meals, hands-on activities, exclusive after-hours time in the exhibits, planetarium shows and telescope viewing amidst the backdrop of the redwood forest. —Brittany Delay, The Mercury News, 13 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing redwood

• coast redwood
• dawn redwood

Kids Definition

redwood

noun

red·​wood ˈred-ˌwu̇d 

: a tall cone-producing evergreen tree mostly of coastal California that is related to the bald cypresses and sometimes grows to be 360 feet (110 meters) tall

also : its light long-lasting brownish red wood