Sitka spruce

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablebiology

   A very large evergreen tree of the Pacific coast of North America, with sharp needles and strong, light wood.

   Grammar: Often used as a plain tree name; it is also the name of the wood.

   Patterns

   • a stand of Sitka spruce
   • Sitka spruce forest

   Giant Sitka spruce grow along the Alaskan coast.

   The hikers walked through a forest of Sitka spruce.

   A Sitka spruce can live for several hundred years.

2. 2noununcountable

   The wood of this tree, valued for musical instruments, boat building and general timber.

   Grammar: Used without a when talking about the material.

   Patterns

   • made of Sitka spruce
   • Sitka spruce top

   The guitar has a top made of Sitka spruce.

   Early aircraft frames used Sitka spruce for its strength and lightness.

   Sitka spruce is also grown for timber in Britain and Ireland.

Word forms

Common combinations

Sitka spruce forest

The trail winds through a Sitka spruce forest.

Sitka spruce top

The guitar's Sitka spruce top gives a bright tone.

Sitka spruce timber

Sitka spruce timber is used in building.

giant Sitka spruce

A giant Sitka spruce stood beside the river.

plantation of Sitka spruce

The hillside holds a large plantation of Sitka spruce.

Synonyms and how they differ

Picea sitchensis

This is the scientific name, used in botanical writing, while Sitka spruce is the common name.

coast spruce

Coast spruce is a less common name that points to where the tree grows.

tideland spruce

Tideland spruce is an older regional name based on its habitat near the sea.

Word family

spruce noun

any evergreen tree of the genus Picea

conifer noun

a tree that bears cones

evergreen noun

a plant that keeps its leaves all year

Commonly confused: Sitka spruce or Norway spruce? Sitka spruce or spruce?

Practice

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