Definition

1. Noun (countable):
   • A type of coniferous tree: "white cedar" refers to a specific, slow-growing, medium-sized evergreen tree native to the eastern regions of North America. It is characterized by having tiny, scale-like leaves on flattened branchlets.
   • The wood of this tree: The term can also refer to the lightweight, aromatic wood from this tree, which is often used for making chests, fences, or shingles due to its resistance to decay.

Usage Examples

• Noun (referring to the tree):
  • The property is bordered by a dense stand of white cedar.
  • We planted a white cedar as a windbreak for the garden.
• Noun (referring to the wood):
  • The old hope chest was made of aromatic white cedar.
  • They used white cedar for the fence posts because it lasts for decades in the ground.

Advanced Usage

• Botanical Context: In precise botanical or horticultural contexts, "white cedar" is used to distinguish this species (, also called Northern White Cedar or Arborvitae) from other trees with "cedar" in their common names, such as the Atlantic White Cedar () or the Western Red Cedar.
  • For this restoration project, we are sourcing native white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) saplings.

Variants and Related Words

• Northern white cedar: A more specific common name for .
• Arborvitae: Another common name for the same tree species, from Latin meaning "tree of life."
• False cedar: A general term for trees in the cypress family (like ) that have cedar-like wood but are not true cedars (genus ).

Synonyms

• Arborvitae (when referring specifically to ).
• Thuja (the scientific genus name, used in technical contexts).

Notes on Meaning

• The term "white cedar" is a common name, not a scientific one, and can cause confusion. It primarily refers to in the northern and eastern US and Canada. In other regions, it may refer to different species. The key identifying features from the reference definition are its slow growth, medium size, tiny scale-like leaves, and flattened branchlets.

Noun

1. slow-growing medium-sized cedar of east coast of the United States; resembles American arborvitae
2. small evergreen of eastern North America having tiny scalelike leaves on flattened branchlets