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Definition of western hemlock
western hemlock
Plural:western hemlocks
western hemlock Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A large evergreen coniferous tree native to the west coast of North America, characterized by short, flat needles and small cones, highly valued for its timber and paper pulp.
Example
"The logger harvested several massive Western hemlocks to supply the local paper mill."
Word Nuance & Usage
Despite its name, the Western hemlock is a non-toxic conifer and is completely unrelated to the highly poisonous herbaceous plant known as poison hemlock.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The tree was named 'hemlock' because the scent of its crushed needles was thought to resemble that of the unrelated poisonous plant. 'Western' denotes its native habitat in the Pacific Northwest region of North America.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Western hemlock. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/western hemlock