What does "hickory" mean?
Any of various deciduous hardwood trees of the genera Carya and Annamocarya, one species of which, Carya illinoinensis, is the source of pecan nuts.
Hickory
/ˈhɪkəɹiː/ name, noun, slang
name, noun, slang ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any of various deciduous hardwood trees of the genera Carya and Annamocarya, one species of which, Carya illinoinensis, is the source of pecan nuts.
- Grammar: hickory is listed as name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: hickory tree, brown, carya tree, cudgel.
- Useful contrasts: colorless, pale, softwood.
- Usage evidence: More than 250 fish species use the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries for some portion of their life cycles, including American and hickory shad, river herring, striped bass, eel, weakfish, bluefish, flounder, oysters, and blue crabs. More than 300 migratory bird species can also be found in the watershed.
How to use "hickory"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "hickory" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "hickory" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "hickory" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "hickory" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "hickory" is acting as name, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "hickory tree" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "hickory", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any of various deciduous hardwood trees of the genera Carya and Annamocarya, one species of which, Carya illinoinensis, is the source of pecan nuts. countable
"[H]e came across this young man sawin' on a fiddle and playin' it hot And the devil jumped up on a hickory stump And said, "Boy, let me tell you what.""
- 2 American hardwood tree bearing edible nuts wordnet
- 3 The wood of these trees. uncountable
- 4 valuable tough heavy hardwood from various hickory trees wordnet
- 5 A coarse, durable cotton fabric. countable, uncountable
"The loggers wore hickory shirts."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A club with a head made from hickory wood. countable, informal
"What you find out is, if you have good hickories, you can play anywhere from 5,300 yards to 6,100 with no problem."
Proper Noun
- 1 A number of places in the United States:; A census-designated place in Graves County, Kentucky, named for the hickory trees.
- 2 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Harford County, Maryland.
- 3 A number of places in the United States:; A town in Newton County, Mississippi, named for "Old Hickory" (Andrew Jackson).
- 4 A number of places in the United States:; A city mostly in Catawba County, North Carolina, named after the Hickory Tavern.
- 5 A number of places in the United States:; A town in Murray County, Oklahoma.
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 A number of places in the United States:; A census-designated place in Mount Pleasant Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania.
- 7 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in the city of Chesapeake, Virginia.
- 8 A number of places in the United States:; A number of townships, listed under Hickory Township.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"More than 250 fish species use the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries for some portion of their life cycles, including American and hickory shad, river herring, striped bass, eel, weakfish, bluefish, flounder, oysters, and blue crabs. More than 300 migratory bird species can also be found in the watershed."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "hickory"?
Common synonyms include: hickory tree, brown, carya tree, cudgel, ebony, hardwood.
How do you use "hickory" in a sentence?
More than 250 fish species use the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries for some portion of their life cycles, including American and hickory shad, river herring, striped bass, eel, weakfish, bluefish, flounder, oysters, and blue crabs. More than 300 migratory bird species can also be found in the watershed.
How do you pronounce "hickory"?
Pronounced /ˈhɪkəɹiː/.
Etymology
A shortening of pockerchicory/pokickery/pohickery, from Powhatan pawcohiccora.