elm

American  

[elm] / ɛlm /

noun

• elms
  plural

1. any tree of the genus Ulmus, as U. procera English elm, characterized by the gradually spreading columnar manner of growth of its branches.

2. the wood of such a tree.

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elm British  

/ ɛlm /

noun

1. any ulmaceous tree of the genus Ulmus, occurring in the N hemisphere, having serrated leaves and winged fruits (samaras): cultivated for shade, ornament, and timber

2. the hard heavy wood of this tree

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• elms
  plural

Etymology

Origin of elm

before 1000; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Old High German elm; akin to Old Norse almr, Latin ulmus

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

elm elms

To better understand its ecological effects, Jusino and her colleagues studied dead elm trees both with and without golden oyster mushrooms.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 24, 2026

However, Dutch elm disease means many trees die before they reach their full height.

From BBC ● Apr. 16, 2026

White-letter hairstreak butterflies are hard to spot, as they fly around the tops of tall elm trees.

From BBC ● Apr. 16, 2026

And when things feel hopeless, we step outside our door and watch the golden light stream through our old California elm.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 21, 2025

I turn my head, looking for my twin in the yard, but she is no longer by the elm.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

However, he added the group found about 100 elm trees in the Quantocks and has planted 430 more disease resistant elms across 38 plots of land.

From BBC ● Apr. 16, 2026

With its canopy of interlocking elms, this promenade kept New Yorkers cool in the summer, but let them bask in the winter sun during the colder months.

From Slate ● Jul. 23, 2025

The three at 350 S. Grand Ave. were Chinese elms, while the others nearby were ficus trees, Valenzuela said.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2025

The cloaked trees have created a mysterious and striking effect across the city and its suburbs, with purple and green leaves of Japanese maples or elms barely visible behind translucent tulle.

From New York Times ● Jun. 2, 2024

There was a slight, persistent movement of wind through the yew tree branches, and the elms and oaks of the copse, and a rustling of the high grasses in the field.

From "I'm the King of the Castle" by Susan Hill