sequoia

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A huge evergreen tree of California, with thick reddish bark, that can live for thousands of years.

   Grammar: Plural is sequoias; also used before a noun: a sequoia grove.

   Patterns

   • a grove of sequoias
   • giant sequoia

   We stood beneath a sequoia that was older than most countries.

   The tourists tried to hug the trunk of the giant sequoia.

   Sequoias grow best in cool, damp mountain forests.

2. 2noununcountable

   The wood of this tree, used for building because it resists rot and insects.

   Grammar: No plural in this sense: a table made of sequoia.

   Patterns

   • made of sequoia

   The old cabin was built from sequoia.

   Sequoia is reddish and light for its size.

   They sold sequoia shingles at the mill.

Word forms

Common combinations

giant sequoia

A giant sequoia can weigh as much as several jumbo jets.

sequoia grove

We walked through a sequoia grove at dawn.

sequoia forest

The sequoia forest was hushed and dim.

sequoia national park

Sequoia National Park is home to some of the largest trees.

towering sequoia

A towering sequoia blocked out the sky.

Synonyms and how they differ

redwood

Redwood is a related tree and the word is often used loosely, though coast redwoods are taller and giant sequoias are wider.

conifer

Conifer is the broad group of cone-bearing trees, whereas sequoia is one specific kind.

Word family

sequoias noun

plural form

redwood noun

closely related tree

Sequoia proper noun

a national park in California

Commonly confused: sequoia or sequence?

Practice

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