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yew Definition

yew (yo̵̅o̅)

noun

    1. any of a genus (Taxus) of evergreen shrubs and trees of the yew family, having red, cuplike, waxy cones containing a single seed, broad, flattened leaves that are needles, and fine-grained, elastic wood
    2. the wood, used esp. for making archers' bows
  1. Archaic an archer's bow of yew

Etymology: ME ew < OE iw, eow, akin to Ger eibe (OHG iwa) < IE *(e)iwā- < base *ei-, reddish > L uva, grape: orig. name because of color of the wood

adjective

designating a family (Taxaceae) of resinous evergreen conifers with needlelike leaves, including ground hemlock
yew Usage Examples

Preposition: on

  • side: The earliest stone is of 1671 under a yew on the west side of the church.

Adjective modifier

  • 19thc: Yews of lesser girth on east boundary and a 19thC yew on the north side of the graveyard.
  • sacred: The history of the sacred yew can be sketched in outline.
  • ancient: His grave is beside no church, neither under the shadow of any ancient yew.
  • mature: Vegetation: two mature yews on west, a couple of younger ones on north.
  • Irish: Florence Court's most notable tree, the Irish Yew, grows in a much wilder part of the estate.
  • old: More information 3rd February 2003 300 year old yew saved from the chop!

Converse of object

  • clip: Twelve sentinel clipped yews, again reinforcing the time theme surround the lawn.
  • plant: Carolyn and Carole planted some green yew ( Taxus baccata ) in these boxes.
  • include: Vegetation: yews and firs on the southwest boundary include two old yews on the west.
  • have: Tuesday, September 07, 2004 Where have Yew been?

Modifies a noun

  • hedge: The garden has the oldest yew hedge maze in England.
  • hedging: The boundary to the road consists of a low red brick wall planted with mature yew hedging.
  • tree: The garden still contains a yew tree which he planted in 1645.
  • maze: The garden has the oldest yew hedge maze in England.
  • alley: I do not know of any other garden, real or fictitious, claiming to have a " yew alley " .
  • woodland: The yew woodland is an outstanding example of a habitat with a very small representation in Britain.

Preposition: in

  • churchyard: I headed up an avenue of limes, which seemed to line up with the yews in the churchyard.

Preposition: of

  • age: Vegetation: two yews of no great age on former northern edge of churchyard.

Noun used with modifier

  • churchyard: There is little sound except for the breeze stirring in the churchyard yew trees.

Browse dictionary entries near yew

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