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Definition of slippery elm

slippery elm

Plural:slippery elms
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• noun

1

The dried, powdered inner bark of the slippery elm tree, which creates a soothing gel when mixed with water and is widely used in herbal medicine to treat sore throats and digestive issues.

Example

"Many professional singers drink tea made with slippery elm to coat and protect their vocal cords before a long performance."

2

North American A medium-sized deciduous tree native to eastern North America, known scientifically as Ulmus rubra, recognized by its rough, sandpaper-like leaves and medicinally valuable inner bark.

Example

"During the botanical survey, the researchers identified a mature slippery elm growing near the limestone bluffs."

• Nearby Words

slipperily
slipperiness
slippery
slippery elm
slippy
sliproad
slipshod

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Slippery elm. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/slippery-elm
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