any tree or shrub of the genus Salix, characterized by narrow, lance-shaped leaves and dense catkins bearing small flowers, many species having tough, pliable twigs or branches used for wickerwork, etc.
the wood of any of these trees.
Informal. something, especially a cricket bat, made of willow wood.
Also called willower, willy. a machine consisting essentially of a cylinder armed with spikes revolving within a spiked casing, for opening and cleaning cotton or other fiber.
any of numerous salicaceous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix, such as the weeping willow and osiers of N temperate regions, which have graceful flexible branches, flowers in catkins, and feathery seeds
the whitish wood of certain of these trees
something made of willow wood, such as a cricket or baseball bat
a machine having a system of revolving spikes for opening and cleaning raw textile fibres
First recorded before 900; Middle English wilwe, variant of wilghe, Old English welig; cognate with Old Saxon wilgia, Dutch wilg, Low German wilge
A willow is a tree with long, flexible branches and very small leaves. If you're looking for a picnic spot, the wide, green canopy of a willow provides great shade on a hot summer day. Most willow trees grow near water or in damp locations, as their roots soak up great quantities of moisture and can be used to protect the banks of rivers and streams from erosion. Willow branches are also commonly woven together to make baskets. A "weeping willow" has distinctive, graceful branches that curve down toward the ground.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"The conservation volunteers have been preparing the site by creating ponds and planting willow," Thallon said.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
Dams have been made with willow wood from pond restoration projects on the Attingham estate.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
The infested willow plants were sold in 15 counties, mostly across Southern and Central California between June 24 and July 3.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
The authors contend that this issue alone casts serious doubt on the reported magnitude of willow recovery.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 14, 2026
I took my samples from the riverside willows, the new blue willow grove, and the leaves I’d collected from random trees.
From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate
Willow Bay and Bob Iger are investing more than $100 million into the women’s soccer club.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
Iger is married to broadcast journalist Willow Bay, a former model who is dean of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026
He and his wife, Willow Bay, purchased a controlling interest in the National Women's Soccer League's Angel City FC in 2024.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
Ken Marshall, from Wakefield, has owned his boat Willow for about eight years.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
Mrs. Weasley was intrigued by the Whomping Willow, which had been planted after she had left school, and reminisced at length about the gamekeeper before Hagrid, a man called Ogg.
From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling
Among them, the height to volume model was applied to heavily browsed willows with unusual growth forms, even though the model was not designed for such distorted shapes.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 14, 2026
The vast glass-domed exhibition space became a wonderland, with pink weeping willows and oversized toadstools adorning the runway.
From BBC ● Jan. 29, 2026
The vast Grand Palais exhibition space in central Paris was transformed into an enchanted forest populated by giant mushrooms and pink weeping willows as stars from Nicole Kidman to Dua Lipa looked on.
From Barron's ● Jan. 27, 2026
The water is low, but clear, lined with the shade of willows.
From Salon ● Nov. 8, 2025
After passing through a patch of brush and willows Robin came out into a field.
From "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite de Angeli
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
