Meaning & use
pussy willow
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountablebiology
A small willow tree or shrub whose silky, silvery buds appear in early spring before the leaves.
Grammar: Both the plant and its branches: a vase of pussy willow.
Patterns
- a branch of pussy willow
The pussy willow by the creek was covered in soft gray buds.
She put cut pussy willow in a tall vase.
Pussy willow is among the first plants to flower in spring.
Word forms
| plural | pussy willows |
|---|
Common combinations
- branches of pussy willow
- Branches of pussy willow decorated the table.
- pussy willow catkins
- The pussy willow catkins felt like velvet.
- pussy willow bud
- A pussy willow bud opened in warm weather.
- plant a pussy willow
- They planted a pussy willow near the pond.
Synonyms and how they differ
- catkin
- It names the fuzzy flower spike itself rather than the whole shrub.
- willow
- It is the broad family, while pussy willow names the particular species known for fuzzy buds.
Word family
Commonly confused: pussy willow or weeping willow?
pussy willow vs weeping willow
A weeping willow is a large tree with long drooping branches, while a pussy willow is smaller and known for fuzzy buds.
Practice
In early spring, the soft silvery buds on the ___ show that winter is ending.
Choose one answer.
Furry buds before the leaves are typical of pussy willow. A holly bush has spiky leaves and berries, not silky buds.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pussy willow”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.