willow: Meaning and Definition of

wil•low

Pronunciation: (wil'ō), [key]
— n.
  1. any tree or shrub of the genus Salix, characterized by narrow, lance-shaped leaves and dense catkins bearing small flowers, many species having tough, pliable twigs or branches used for wickerwork, etc. Cf.
  2. the wood of any of these trees.
  3. something, esp. a cricket bat, made of willow wood.
  4. Also calleda machine consisting essentially of a cylinder armed with spikes revolving within a spiked casing, for opening and cleaning cotton or other fiber.
—v.t.
  1. to treat (textile fibers) with a willow.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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