aspen Hear it!

aspen Definition

as·pen (as′pən)

noun

any of several kinds of poplar tree (genus Populus) with flattened leafstalks that cause the leaves to flutter in the least breeze

Etymology: ME aspe (aspen, in comp.) < OE æspe < IE base *apsa > Lith ãpuš, OPrus abse

adjective

of or like an aspen

Aspen Definition

As·pen (as′pən)

city in central Colorado: ski resort: pop. 5,000

aspen Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • include: A beetle, Saperda populnea, creates a large gall in both willow ( Salix spp. ) and poplar twigs, including aspen.
  • propagate: Young aspens propagated from root sections at the Trees for Life field base, Plodda Lodge, ready for planting.
  • tremble: The blackthorn, wild fig, trembling aspen, and other ' crossed ' wood are avoided.

Adjective modifier

  • young: A single specimen was beaten from young aspen in a clearing by the ponds at Monkwood Reserve on 22 August 1999.
  • European: The ecology, silviculture and genetics of European aspen ( Populus tremula ): A review with particular reference to Scotland.
  • mature: The secondary woodland includes stands of mature aspen and willow carr.
  • fallen: Dead and fallen aspen should be left undisturbed and protected from deer and rabbit grazing.
  • large: Of the 159.5 ha of larger remnant aspen stands only approximately 25 ha. are within present SSSI's or NNR's.

Modifies a noun

  • leaf: But when his eye fell on the form of Henry he turned deadly pale, and trembled like an aspen leaf.
  • stand: All the areas covered by aspen stands were plotted on maps at 1:10,000 scale from which their sizes were estimated.
  • wood: Dangers like these could threaten one of the two suitable large aspen woods in the North East.
  • tree: Silence, except for the rustle of a gentle breeze in the aspen trees.
  • site: Its small size and its ability to avoid capture may well mean that it has been overlooked at aspen sites in the past.
  • area: Situated within a glen and within continuous woodland movement between the aspen areas must be quite straightforward.

Used with adjective complement

  • include: The outstanding wildlife interest includes aspen, juniper, capercaillie, red squirrel, crested tit, blood red slave maker ants and otter.
aspen Quotes

The sailing pine, the cedar proud and tall, The vine-prop elm, the poplar never dry, The builder oak, sole king of forests all, The aspen good for staves, the cypress funeral. The laurel, meed of mighty conquerors And poets sage, the fir that weepeth still, The willow worn of forlorn paramours, The ewe obedient to the benders will, The birch for shafts, the sallow for the mill, The myrrh sweet bleeding in the bitter wound, The warlike beech, the ash for nothing ill, The fruitful olive, and the platan round, The carver holme, the maple seldom inward sound.

—Spenser, Edmund

   O Woman! in our hours of ease, Uncertain, coy, and hard to please, And variable as the shade By the light quivering aspen made; When pain and anguish wring the brow, A ministering angel thou!

—Scott, Sir Walter