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sequoia

American  
[si-kwoi-uh] / sɪˈkwɔɪ ə /

sequoia British  
/ sɪˈkwɔɪə /

noun

  1. either of two giant Californian coniferous trees, Sequoia sempervirens ( redwood ) or Sequoiadendron giganteum (formerly Sequoia gigantea ) ( big tree or giant sequoia ): family Taxodiaceae

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of sequoia

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; named after Sequoya


Explanation

A sequoia is an ancient, towering redwood tree that grows on the coast of northern California and southern Oregon. Sequoias are the largest trees on Earth. Before commercial logging destroyed many of them, giant sequoias covered the entire coast of California, filling about two million acres of forest. The remaining trees are among the very oldest things on our planet; some are more than 2,000 years old. Sequoias are massive evergreens, the largest of which is as tall as a 30-story building. The sequoia was named after the Cherokee man, Sequoya, who invented a written form of the Cherokee language in the 1820s.

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Vocabulary lists containing sequoia

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.

See Examples For:

First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park in California's Sierra Nevada mountains is internationally acclaimed for its spectacular granite cliffs, glaciers, waterfalls, sequoia trees and wildlife.

From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026

That contrast gave researchers a rare opportunity to measure how previous prescribed burns affected giant sequoia survival during extreme wildfires.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026

The findings provide strong evidence that prescribed burning can help protect sequoia groves by reducing the amount of fuel available when a major wildfire arrives.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026

For those Angelenos who desire a natural Christmas tree cutting experience, however, Sequoia National Forest does offer permits — just don’t accidentally cut a baby giant sequoia.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 5, 2024

Many times when I walk around Manhattan I feel as if I’m walking among giant sequoia trees in the California Redwoods.

From "Bodega Dreams" by Ernesto Quinonez

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