willow
[ wil-oh ]
/ ˈwɪl oʊ /
noun
any tree or shrub of the genus Salix, characterized by narrow, lance-shaped leaves and dense catkins bearing small flowers, many species having tough, pliable twigs or branches used for wickerwork, etc.
Compare willow family.
the wood of any of these trees.
Informal.
something, especially a cricket bat, made of willow wood.
verb (used with object)
to treat (textile fibers) with a willow.
Origin of willow
before 900; Middle English
wilwe, variant of
wilghe, Old English
welig; cognate with Old Saxon
wilgia, Dutch
wilg, Low German
wilge
OTHER WORDS FROM willow
wil·low·like, adjective wil·low·ish, adjectiveWords nearby willow
Example sentences from the Web for willow
British Dictionary definitions for willow (1 of 2)
willow
/ (ˈwɪləʊ) /
noun
any of numerous salicaceous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix, such as the weeping willow and osiers of N temperate regions, which have graceful flexible branches, flowers in catkins, and feathery seeds
the whitish wood of certain of these trees
something made of willow wood, such as a cricket or baseball bat
a machine having a system of revolving spikes for opening and cleaning raw textile fibres
Derived forms of willow
willowish or willow-like, adjectiveWord Origin for willow
Old English
welig; related to
wilige wicker basket, Old Saxon
wilgia, Middle High German
wilge, Greek
helikē willow,
helix twisted
British Dictionary definitions for willow (2 of 2)
Willow
noun
a small town in S Alaska, about 113 km (70 miles) northwest of Anchorage: chosen as the site of the projected new state capital in 1976, a plan which never came to fruition. Pop: 1658 (2000)