cattail
noun
cat·tail
| \ ˈkat-ˌtāl
\
\
Definition of cattail
: any of a genus (Typha of the family Typhaceae, the cattail family) of tall reedy marsh plants with brown furry fruiting spikes
especially
: a plant (Typha latifolia) with long flat leaves used especially for making mats and chair seats
Examples of cattail in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While the nest floats, it is usually attached to reed or cattail stalks to anchor it in place. — Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Water-loving coots are longtime familiar sights," 15 Aug. 2019 Fuzzy cattails wave in the sea breeze several feet above our heads and a stream bubbles into a pond, all part of the varied ecosystem of the delta. — Starre Vartan, National Geographic, "Beavers on the coast are helping salmon bounce back. Here’s how.," 13 Aug. 2019 Too much phosphorus can cause cattails and other plants to grow in the sparse marshes and interrupt the flow of water and over-stimulate seagrasses. — Jenny Staletovich, sun-sentinel.com, "New Study Says Everglades Water Is Harming Keys Corals. Not Everyone Agrees.," 28 July 2019 The trails, some stilted over small streams and bogs, follow a loop that can be walked in 30 minutes at a leisurely pace, but the cattails are tall enough to block out the view of town, and birdsong soon replaces the sound of cars on the Boulevard. — Brian Coyne, SFChronicle.com, "One Day, One Place: Mount Shasta, California," 11 July 2019 But even a slight change in nutrients commonly found in farm fields or canals that contain stormwater runoff can cause heavy damage and choke marshes with cattails. — Jenny Staletovich, miamiherald, "Could raising a 90-year-old road fix South Florida's water problems?," 18 June 2018 Several male red-winged blackbirds occupied their little cattail empires at the pond’s edge. — Taylor Piephoff, charlotteobserver, "Cowan’s Ford Wildlife Refuge is a perfect spot for leisurely birding | Charlotte Observer," 4 May 2018 Prudent, who went along for the ride, explained how Native Americans used cattails for food and to make clothing. — Sheryl Devore, Lake County News-Sun, "DNR hosts free events for public to explore Lake Michigan Water Trail," 1 July 2018 In the cattails surrounding the pond there will be another show as damsel and dragonflies compete with mountain wildflowers to add reds and blues to the spring landscape. — Ernie Cowan, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Visit the High Sierra with a trip to Palomar Mountain," 11 May 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cattail.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for cattail
cattail
noun
English Language Learners Definition of cattail
US
: a tall plant that has long flat leaves and that grows in wet areas
See the full definition for cattail in the English Language Learners Dictionary
cattail
noun
cat·tail
| \ ˈkat-ˌtāl
\
\
Kids Definition of cattail
: a tall plant with long flat leaves and tall furry stalks that grows in marshy areas
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