What does poplar mean?
A poplar is a tall, fast-growing tree belonging to the genus Populus. Its relatively soft, lightweight wood has long made it useful for furniture, plywood, construction, and other practical purposes, so the word can refer both to the living tree and to its timber. Poplars are especially associated with riversides, parks, and rural landscapes, where their height and broad crowns make them conspicuous. The name has a long history: it entered English through Old French and ultimately comes from Latin populus, the Latin word for a poplar. Interestingly, that same Latin root also underlies words including popular, populate, and population, although its original sense referred to the tree rather than to people or communities. In modern English, poplar is generally neutral and descriptive, while specific names such as Lombardy poplar, white poplar, and black poplar identify particular trees or groups within the broader category.
nounA tall, fast-growing deciduous tree of the genus Populus, with relatively soft wood and often broad, rounded foliage. The word can also refer to the wood of these trees.
- A tree of the genus Populus, typically tall and deciduous, with soft, pale wood.
- The lightweight wood obtained from a poplar tree, used in carpentry, furniture, and other products.
"A row of poplars lined the riverbank, their leaves turning gold in the autumn."
"The garden is shaded by several mature poplars."
"The chair is made from lightweight poplar."
Use poplars when referring to more than one poplar tree or to the trees as a group.
"Several poplars grow along the edge of the field."
The tall poplar's name points back to Latin populus, the same ancient root that also gave us words such as population and popular.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does poplar come from?
The English word poplar comes through Old French poplier from Latin populus, meaning “poplar tree.” Latin populus also became the source of words such as popular, populate, population, and populace, although those words developed the separate sense of “people” or “community.”
Related word forms
How poplar is actually used
Poplar is commonly used for the tree and, in woodworking and construction contexts, for its wood. The pronunciation differs noticeably between British and American English because the first vowel is /ɒ/ in British English and /ɑː/ in American English.