sakura
Americannoun
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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
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.
The tiny white and pink petals of cherry flowers, known as sakura, herald the start of spring in Japan, and full bloom ushers in a brief period of boisterous outdoor parties held by residents.
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
“Serhiy’s most recent tattoo is a samurai with a branch of sakura above him,” she said in a telephone interview on Thursday as she went to collect his remains.
From New York Times • Sep. 23, 2022
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 Lowell, Percival
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
