sakura
Americannoun
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sakura
plural
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a tree, especially a cherry tree, that is densely covered with blossoms during its flowering time.
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the blossom or blossoms of a tree, especially a cherry tree, that is noted for the beauty of its flowering time.
We playfully try to catch the last of the sakura as they fall and float like pink snowflakes into our open hands.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of sakura
First recorded in 1880–85; from Japanese; literally, “cherry tree”
Explanation
Springtime in Japan brings the blooming of the sakura, or cherry blossoms, which are beloved in the country for their scent and beauty. Sakura is the Japanese name for any ornamental cherry tree — that is, one grown for its flowers rather than its fruit — and also for the blossoms of those trees. The varieties common in Japan are sometimes called "Japanese cherry trees" in English. Sitting and enjoying the cherry blossoms during their brief season is an important cultural event for many people in Japan, and the blooms are often pickled and used in cooking.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Inspired by the transient beauty of cherry blossoms, known in Japan as sakura — which is illustrated in their album cover, alongside a dark pegasus — much of the LP also hinges on melodrama.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Japanese people hold "very special feelings for sakura", said Tokyo resident Akiko Nyman, 48, as she admired flowers in crowded Ueno park in the centre of the capital.
From Barron's ● Mar. 30, 2026
The photographer, who lives in Harrogate, says she visited the country for sakura season and has spotted visual similarities in her local park.
From BBC ● May 1, 2025
Cherry blossoms, known as “sakura” in Japanese, are the nation’s favorite flower, and people often have sakura viewing parties beneath the falling pedals.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 4, 2024
If the plum invited admiration, the cherry commands it; for to see the sakura in flower for the first time is to experience a new sensation.
From The Soul of the Far East by Percival Lowell
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