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Definition of eastern redcedar
eastern redcedar
Plural:eastern redcedars
• noun
1
North American A dense, slow-growing coniferous evergreen tree native to eastern North America, characterized by its aromatic, reddish, decay-resistant heartwood and bluish, berry-like seed cones.
Example
"Many woodworkers favor the lumber of the eastern redcedar for lining closets and chests because its distinct fragrance naturally repels moths."
Word Nuance & Usage
Despite its common name, the eastern redcedar is not a true cedar (genus Cedrus) but rather a species of juniper (genus Juniperus), which is why 'redcedar' is often spelled as a single compound word in botanical contexts.
• Nearby Words
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Eastern redcedar. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/eastern%20redcedar