A tree of the genus Ulmus of the family Ulmaceae, large deciduous trees with alternate stipulate leaves and small apetalous flowers.
"The ancient elm stood tall in the park, its broad canopy sheltering children playing beneath its large deciduous branches adorned with small, nearly invisible flowers."
In plain English: An elm is a type of tall tree with broad leaves that often grows along streets and riversides.
"The old elm tree in our backyard provided perfect shade during summer afternoons."
Usage: Elm refers to any tree in the genus Ulmus, known for its broad canopy that often droops at the branch tips. These trees are frequently planted as street shade but have become rare due to a widespread fungal disease called Dutch elm disease.
A village and civil parish in Fenland district, Cambridgeshire, England (OS grid ref TF4706).
"The annual harvest festival was held in Elm, a quiet village in the Fenland district of Cambridgeshire."
The word "elm" comes from Old English elm, which traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root for a specific type of tree. Its meaning has remained consistent throughout its history in English, referring directly to the large deciduous tree known today.