elm
pronunciation
How to pronounce elm in British English:
UK [elm]
How to pronounce elm in American English:
US [ɛlm]
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- Noun:
- any of various trees of the genus Ulmus: important timber or shade trees
- hard tough wood of an elm tree; used for e.g. implements and furniture
Word Origin
- elm
- elm: [OE] The tree-name elm is widely distributed throughout the Indo-European languages of Europe. Latin had ulmus, for instance (source of German ulme and Dutch olm) and Irish has leamh. Of the Germanic languages (those whose native forms have not been supplanted by Latin ulmus) Swedish and Norwegian have alm beside English elm.
- elm (n.)
- Old English elm, from Proto-Germanic *elmaz (cognates: Danish elm, Old Norse almr, Old High German elme), perhaps from PIE root *el- (2) "red, brown" (see elk); cognate with Latin ulmus, Old Irish lem. German Ulme, Dutch olm are from or influenced by the Latin word. The toughest native European wood, used for ship-building, wheel-naves, etc. Middle English had adjective forms elmen, elmin, which survived longer in poetry. New Haven was informally the Elm City (1871).
Example
- 1. That pool under the shade of elm trees
- 2. Another tried by herself to insert a boiled elm twig , followed by a spoon handle .
- 3. Sleeping in the elm may be invigorating , but it is also illegal .
- 4. Trees on the road had been peeled of their bark . Peasants dry and powder the elm bark and then cook it .
- 5. The junction between elm street and beech street was an accident black spot .