The painting placed a dark cypress beside the tomb.
In the poem, cypress marks the speaker's grief.
Moist air did little damage to the cypress siding.
The cemetery path was framed by cypress.
Similar words
lawn
funeral emblem
crape
crepe
conifer
wood
gauze
mourning symbol
timber
evergreen
Meanings
Evergreen conifer
noun
nature
neutral
An evergreen conifer, usually with scale-like leaves and woody cones, including true cypresses and several related trees called by the same name.
Examples
A tall cypress shaded the courtyard.
Rows of cypresses lined the road to the cemetery.
The swamp was full of old cypress trees.
A Leyland cypress can grow quickly into a dense hedge.
The cypress kept its dark foliage through winter.
Similar words
conifer
evergreen
Durable wood
noun
material
neutral
The fragrant, often durable wood of a cypress tree, used for building, furniture, and outdoor work where resistance to decay matters.
Examples
The deck was built from cypress.
Cabinetmakers value cypress for its scent and grain.
The old fence rails were cut from cypress.
She sanded the cypress until the surface felt smooth.
Moist air did little damage to the cypress siding.
Similar words
timber
lumber
wood
Mourning emblem
noun
symbolism
literary
A cypress branch or tree used as a sign of grief, death, or remembrance, especially in classical and cemetery imagery.
Examples
The painting placed a dark cypress beside the tomb.
In the poem, cypress marks the speaker's grief.
Mourners once carried cypress at funerals.
The cemetery path was framed by cypress.
Classical art often treats cypress as a sign of loss.
Similar words
mourning symbol
funeral emblem
Black gauze fabric
noun
textiles
archaic
A fine gauze, lawn, silk, or crepe-like fabric, often black and formerly used for mourning clothes and trimmings.
Examples
Her veil was made of black cypress.
The mourning gown was trimmed with cypress.
Old inventories list cypress among fine gauzes.
A strip of cypress darkened the sleeve.
The word cypress can name an obsolete mourning cloth.
Similar words
gauze
crepe
crape
lawn
Etymology
The tree name came through Middle English and Old French from Latin cypressus or cyparissus, from Greek kyparissos. The obsolete fabric name is linked separately with Cyprus.
FAQ
What is a cypress tree?
A cypress is an evergreen conifer, often with scale-like leaves and woody cones.
Is cypress the same as Cyprus?
No. cypress is a tree word, while Cyprus is the name of an island country.
What is cypress wood used for?
Cypress wood is used for decks, siding, furniture, and other work where durable, fragrant timber is useful.
Why is cypress linked with mourning?
In classical and cemetery imagery, cypress branches and trees became signs of death, grief, and remembrance.
Can cypress mean a fabric?
Yes. In older use, cypress can mean a fine black gauze or crepe-like cloth used for mourning.
Should cypress be capitalized?
The common word cypress is lowercase unless it starts a sentence or appears in a proper name.
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