noun

• A coniferous tree which has red berrylike fruits, and most parts of which are highly poisonous. Yews are linked with folklore and superstition and can live to a great age; the timber is used in cabinetmaking and (formerly) to make longbows.

  Genus Taxus, family Taxaceae: several species, in particular the American yew (T. canadensis) and the English yew or European yew (T. baccata)

  ‘Species with random branching, such as arborvitae, juniper, yew, and false cypress, have limbs that occur all along the trunk.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Many of the needle evergreens including yew, arborvitae, hemlock, and incense cedar make fine hedges.’
  • ‘Junipers and yews are the most commonly planted of the narrow-leaved evergreens.’
  • ‘For background planting, especially if you have plenty of space, grow yews, hawthorn, holly, elder and Viburnum opulus, the Guelder rose.’
  • ‘Rev Snuggs claimed just three of the yew tree's poisonous berries would be enough to kill a child.’
  • ‘A total of 23 mature trees - including yew, oak and fir - have been destroyed.’
  • ‘The widely used anticancer drug was derived from the Pacific yew, a tree found in temperate rain forests.’
  • ‘They cut away the dead wood, the ivy, the Russian vine, leaving a nearly naked yew and Scots pine, which may well survive and regenerate.’
  • ‘The 10-acre garden of cypresses, yews and quickset hedges is called the Domaine des Colombia.’
  • ‘Although box and yews can be clipped into formal shapes, most shade plants appear at home in that naturalistic setting.’
  • ‘The wood from the yew makes excellent bows.’
  • ‘The forest at Weston is over 30 acres and contains a whole variety of species but John's favourites are the hard woods like the elm and the yew.’
  • ‘Clipped yew, beech and hornbeam are lovely.’
  • ‘I will also have to abandon plans for replacing the yew hedge.’
  • ‘However, only three are native to these shores: juniper, Scots pine and yew.’
  • ‘Many gardens and parks contain poisonous plants such as yew and laburnum.’
  • ‘Objections were raised over the removal of the yews.’
  • ‘Some ancient yews have been cherished and loved, but many more are under threat, mainly by humans.’
  • ‘The yews burned.’
  • ‘A simple circle of juvenile yews will eventually knit together to enclose a calming circle of pure green.’