poplar

[ pop-ler ]

noun

1. any of the rapidly growing, salicaceous trees of the genus Populus, usually characterized by the columnar or spirelike manner of growth of its branches.
2. the light, soft wood of any of these trees, used for pulp.
3. any of various similar trees, as the tulip tree.
4. the wood of any such tree.

poplar

/ ˈpɒplə /

noun

1. See white poplar, Lombardy poplar, balsam poplar, aspen
   any tree of the salicaceous genus Populus, of N temperate regions, having triangular leaves, flowers borne in catkins, and light soft wood See also aspen balsam poplar Lombardy poplar white poplar
2. any of various trees resembling the true poplars, such as the tulip tree
3. the wood of any of these trees

Other Words From

• poplared adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of poplar¹

1350–1400; Middle English popler ( e ), variant of populer, equivalent to Middle English, Old English popul popple ² (< Latin pōpulus poplar) + -er -er ²; suffix apparently added on model of Middle French pouplier, equivalent to pouple poplar + -ier -ier ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of poplar¹

C14: from Old French poplier, from pouple, from Latin pōpulus

Example Sentences

That space-age stuff reinforces a lightweight caruba and poplar core with a big, even flex profile.

From Outside Online

The Dictator line features full stout poplar cores and two sheets of metal throughout for stability at speed.

From Outside Online

The flex profile of the caruba and poplar wood core is also incredibly inviting.

From Outside Online

She would pass the summer thaws on her grandparents’ farm in northern Minnesota, where her grandfather grew hybrid poplars for paper pulp and her grandmother taught her to cook the food they raised.

From Outside Online

The researchers are now testing poplar Algobats on real cricket fields.

From Science News For Students

The poplar trees that line the avenues between the cellblocks are bare.

From The Daily Beast

A little way beyond the poplar-grove Piegan drew rein, and held up one hand.

From Project Gutenberg

Far away a gap in the poplar trees showed a German observation balloon, a tiny dot against the sky.

From Project Gutenberg

They climbed the broken staircase and stared toward the break in the poplar trees, from the roofless floor above.

From Project Gutenberg

Small poplar trees were quickly felled in the neighboring forest, and their branches lopped off.

From Project Gutenberg

Having reached this spot, they lost no time in cutting slender poles of poplar and attaching the lines.

From Project Gutenberg