yew
1any of several evergreen, coniferous trees and shrubs of the genera Taxus and Torreya, constituting the family Taxaceae, of the Old World, North America, and Japan, having needlelike or scalelike foliage and seeds enclosed in a fleshy aril.
the fine-grained, elastic wood of any of these trees.
an archer's bow made of this wood.
this tree or its branches as a symbol of sorrow, death, or resurrection.
Origin of yew
1Words that may be confused with yew
Other definitions for yew (2 of 2)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use yew in a sentence
It was written in French, and, apparently, had reference to certain securities held by the tenant of The Yews.
The Doctor of Pimlico | William Le QueuxIt is said that the old yews which are found in country churchyards were planted in order to supply the yeomanry with bows.'
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems | Geoffrey ChaucerIt was somewhat disguised from the road in passing it by yews and evergreen oaks, but it was visible enough up here.
Tess of the d'Urbervilles | Thomas HardyThey passed into a thick avenue of acacias and yews, through the arcades of which they walked silently.
Joan of the Sword Hand | S(amuel) R(utherford) CrockettThe most perfect of them is the chapter-house, over against which are some immemorial yews.
British Dictionary definitions for yew
/ (juː) /
any coniferous tree of the genus Taxus, of the Old World and North America, esp T. baccata, having flattened needle-like leaves, fine-grained elastic wood, and solitary seeds with a red waxy aril resembling berries: family Taxaceae
the wood of any of these trees, used to make bows for archery
archery a bow made of yew
Origin of yew
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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