1 tupelo | Definition of tupelo

tupelo

noun
tu·​pe·​lo | \ ˈtü-pə-ˌlō How to pronounce tupelo (audio) , ˈtyü-\
plural tupelos

Definition of tupelo

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : any of a genus (Nyssa of the family Nyssaceae) of North American and Asian deciduous trees that have simple alternate leaves, small usually greenish-white dioecious flowers, and a rounded drupe especially : black gum
2 : the pale soft wood of a tupelo

Tupelo

geographical name
Tu·​pe·​lo | \ ˈtü-pə-ˌlō How to pronounce Tupelo (audio) , ˈtyü-\

Definition of Tupelo (Entry 2 of 2)

city in northeastern Mississippi population 34,546

Note: Singer Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo in 1935.

Examples of tupelo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Westervelt estimated not quite 1 million pounds (0.45 million kilograms) of tupelo honey were produced last year, selling for about $6 and up per pound. Jennifer Kay, The Seattle Times, "Hurricane Michael could sour Florida’s tupelo honey harvest," 22 Oct. 2018 Although Florida also produces honey from orange blossoms, gallberries and wildflowers, the honey from white tupelo gum trees ranks highest in price and flavor. Jennifer Kay, The Seattle Times, "Hurricane Michael could sour Florida’s tupelo honey harvest," 22 Oct. 2018 There are no cypress-tupelo swamp mitigation banks available to offset the functions that would be damaged by the pipeline construction. Sara Sneath, NOLA.com, "Bayou Bridge Pipeline asks appeals court to lift halt on construction," 13 Aug. 2017 But Tonsmeire spots plants that tolerate salt water too far upstream, and remembers the loss of tupelo trees. Robert Barnes, Washington Post, "On Florida’s ‘Forgotten Coast,’ a Supreme Court fight over fresh water," 7 Jan. 2018 But Tonsmeire spots plants that tolerate salt water too far upstream, and remembers the loss of tupelo trees. Robert Barnes, Washington Post, "On Florida’s ‘Forgotten Coast,’ a Supreme Court fight over fresh water," 7 Jan. 2018 But Tonsmeire spots plants that tolerate salt water too far upstream, and remembers the loss of tupelo trees. Robert Barnes, Washington Post, "On Florida’s ‘Forgotten Coast,’ a Supreme Court fight over fresh water," 7 Jan. 2018 The 163-mile pipeline project runs across the Atchafalaya River basin, which includes fragile cypress-tupelo swamps. Mark Schleifstein, NOLA.com, "Corps was 'arbitrary and capricious' in granting Bayou Bridge pipeline permit: federal judge," 28 Feb. 2018 But Tonsmeire spots plants that tolerate salt water too far upstream, and remembers the loss of tupelo trees. Robert Barnes, Washington Post, "On Florida’s ‘Forgotten Coast,’ a Supreme Court fight over fresh water," 7 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tupelo.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of tupelo

Noun

circa 1730, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for tupelo

Noun

perhaps from Creek *topiló, from etó tree + piló:(fa), opiló:(fa) swamp

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More from Merriam-Webster on tupelo

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with tupelo

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tupelo