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Definition of american elm
american elm
Plural:american elms
american elm Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
7
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
North American A large, graceful deciduous tree native to eastern North America, recognized by its distinctive, spreading, vase-like shape and historical prominence as a city shade tree before populations were severely reduced by Dutch elm disease.
Example
"Before the middle of the twentieth century, the streets of many historic New England towns were completely shaded by the broad canopies of the American elm."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for american elm• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A compound of 'American' (referring to its native geographical range in North America) and 'elm' (derived from Old English 'elm').
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of American elm. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/american elm