any of several North American trees of the genus Populus having a tuft of cottony hairs on the seed
American basswood of the Allegheny region
A tree from one of number of species of tree in the genus Populus (poplars), typically growing along watercourses, with fluffy catkins.
"The cottonwoods lining the riverbank dropped their fluffy white seeds as soon as spring winds picked up."
A surname.
"The new president of the local chapter is a Mr. Cottonwood, though he insists it's just his family name and not related to the trees lining the riverbank."