yew
1any of several evergreen, coniferous trees and shrubs of the genera Taxus and Torreya, constituting the family Taxaceae, of the Old World, North America, and Japan, having needlelike or scalelike foliage and seeds enclosed in a fleshy aril.
the fine-grained, elastic wood of any of these trees.
an archer's bow made of this wood.
this tree or its branches as a symbol of sorrow, death, or resurrection.
Origin of yew
1Words that may be confused with yew
Words Nearby yew
Other definitions for yew (2 of 2)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use yew in a sentence
The needles of the yew tree can kill you, but the bark is important for many modern drugs.
This Exhibit Could Kill You: The Museum of Natural History Takes on Poison | William O’Connor | January 8, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe Enchanted Island of yew by L. Frank Baum The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come by John Fox Jr.
American Dreams: ‘The Call of the Wild’ by Jack London | Nathaniel Rich | January 25, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTThe church is picturesquely situated on the hillside, with an avenue of fine yew trees leading from the gate to the door.
British Highways And Byways From A Motor Car | Thomas D. MurphyHe pointed with his finger and from behind the old yew arbour came the shrill clamour of a little dog in agony.
Jaffery | William J. LockeThere were plenty of retired nooks under the shade of the yew-trees in the churchyard, where one could write.
The Daughters of Danaus | Mona Caird
The conversation generally turned upon his old “missus,” who was buried under a yew tree, near the wicket gate.
The Daughters of Danaus | Mona CairdHe must have slipped behind a ragged old yew which had once been clipped and trimmed to look like a chess-king.
The Talking Horse | F. Anstey
British Dictionary definitions for yew
/ (juː) /
any coniferous tree of the genus Taxus, of the Old World and North America, esp T. baccata, having flattened needle-like leaves, fine-grained elastic wood, and solitary seeds with a red waxy aril resembling berries: family Taxaceae
the wood of any of these trees, used to make bows for archery
archery a bow made of yew
Origin of yew
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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