giant sequoia

[ jahy-uhnt si-kwaw-uh ]

noun
  1. an endangered coniferous tree, Sequoiadendron giganteum (formerly Sequoia gigantea), of coastal California with massive girth and tremendous height, one of three extant species of subfamily Sequoioideae: the largest in volume and among the oldest of all living things, giant sequoias have been known to exceed 52,000 cubic feet (1,472 cubic meters) in trunk size, 300 feet (91.5 meters) in height, and 3,200 years in age.: Compare redwood1 (def. 1). See also General Grant tree, General Sherman tree.

Origin of giant sequoia

1
First recorded in 1930–35
  • Also called gi·ant red·wood [jahy-uhnt red-wood], /ˈdʒaɪ ənt ˈrɛdˌwʊd/, Si·er·ra red·wood [see-er-uh-red-wood], /siˈɛr ə ˈrɛdˌwʊd/, sequoia, big tree [big-tree] /ˈbɪg ˈtri/ .

Words Nearby giant sequoia

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use giant sequoia in a sentence

  • A giant sequoia lifts tons of solid matter and water up hundreds of feet.

    The Breath of Life | John Burroughs