hemlock

American  

[hem-lok] / ˈhɛmˌlɒk /

noun

1. a poisonous plant, Conium maculatum, of the parsley family, having purple-spotted stems, finely divided leaves, and umbels of small white flowers, used medicinally as a powerful sedative.

2. a poisonous drink made from this plant.

3. any of various other plants, especially of the genus Cicuta, as the water hemlock.

4. Also called hemlock spruce.  any of several coniferous trees of the genus Tsuga, native to the U.S., characterized by a pyramidal manner of growth.

5. the soft, light wood of a hemlock tree, used in making paper, in the construction of buildings, etc.

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hemlock British  

/ ˈhɛmˌlɒk /

noun

1. US name: poison hemlock.  an umbelliferous poisonous Eurasian plant, Conium maculatum, having finely divided leaves, spotted stems, and small white flowers See also water hemlock

2. a poisonous drug derived from this plant

3. Also called: hemlock spruce.  any coniferous tree of the genus Tsuga, of North America and E Asia, having short flat needles: family Pinaceae See also western hemlock

4. the wood of any of these trees, used for lumber and as a source of wood pulp

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Etymology

Origin of hemlock

before 900; Middle English hemlok, humlok, Old English hymlic, hemlic; perhaps akin to Old English hymele hop plant

Example Sentences

“I wanted our house to feel really warm and bring nature inside,” says Lindsay, referring to the Western hemlock tongue and groove planks that she and Daniel installed on the walls and ceilings.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 22, 2025

It differs from other plants mainly by its stem, as poison hemlock stem is hairless, smooth and with red to purple spots and streaks.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 7, 2024

A Pacific Northwest forest planted with Douglas fir, cedar, hemlock and larch underplanted with evergreen huckleberry, salal and ferns transitions to an open woodland of native dogwood trees, red twig dogwood and flowering red currant.

From Seattle Times • May 25, 2024

At the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe on the Olympic Peninsula, Hilton Turnbull, the tribe’s habitat biologist, is planting redwoods alongside species like Douglas fir, western hemlock and grand fir.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 21, 2024

He was on the boulder in front of the hemlock, batting the ferns with his front feet and rearing and staring at me.

From "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George