elm

noun

ˈelm How to pronounce elm (audio)
1
: any of a genus (Ulmus of the family Ulmaceae, the elm family) of usually large deciduous north temperate-zone trees with alternate stipulate leaves and fruit that is a samara
2
: the wood of an elm

Illustration of elm

Illustration of elm
  • elm 1

Examples of elm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the front yard of a home on Bray Road, there’s a huge snarling Beast carved out of an old diseased elm tree, held in place by heavy steel chains. — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026 For generations, American streets and parks showcased the tall, stately pillars of rows and rows of elm trees. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026 After axemen cleared paths through the oaks, elms, and basswoods, the surveyors stretched a standardized measure called a Gunter’s chain—a hundred links to a chain, eighty chains to a mile—and marked the distances with tally pegs. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026 Zones 4-8 ‘Frontier’ Elm Before Dutch Elm Disease (DED) took off in the mid-20th century, elms were the tree of choice for city planners and homeowners alike. — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for elm

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German elme elm, Latin ulmus

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of elm was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing elm

Rhymes for elm

See All Rhymes for elm

Browse Nearby Words

ellwand
elm
El Mahalla El Kubra
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Cite this Entry

“Elm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elm. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

elm

noun
ˈelm How to pronounce elm (audio)
1
: any of a genus of large deciduous trees that have toothed leaves and nearly circular one-seeded winged fruits and are often grown as shade trees
especially : american elm
2
: the wood of an elm

More from Merriam-Webster on elm

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about elm

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