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Definition of incense cedar
incense cedar
Plural:incense cedars
incense cedar Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
9
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A large, aromatic coniferous tree (genus Calocedrus, family Cupressaceae) native primarily to western North America and parts of eastern Asia, characterized by its reddish-brown bark, flattened sprays of scale-like leaves, and soft wood.
Example
"The pungent, aromatic wood of the incense cedar makes it the preferred timber for manufacturing wooden pencils worldwide."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for incense cedarWord Nuance & Usage
Despite its common name, the incense cedar is not a true cedar (genus Cedrus), but rather a member of the cypress family (Cupressaceae).
Word Origin & Etymology
The name derives from the highly aromatic, spicy scent of its wood and foliage ('incense') and its superficial resemblance in habit to true cedars ('cedar').
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Incense cedar. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/incense cedar