1. Large valuable arborvitae of northwestern United States
   "Native Americans traditionally made canoes from western red cedar";
   - western red cedar, canoe cedar, Thuja plicata
    
2. Small juniper found east of Rocky Mountains having a conic crown, brown bark that peels in shreds, and small sharp needles
   "Eastern red cedars are commonly used for windbreaks";
   - eastern red cedar, red juniper, Juniperus virginiana
    
3. Tall tree of the Pacific coast of North America having foliage like cypress and cinnamon-red bark
   "The red cedar's aromatic wood perfumed the air";
   - incense cedar, Calocedrus decurrens, Libocedrus decurrens
    
4. Fragrant reddish wood of any of various red cedar trees
   "Red cedar is often used to line closets due to its pleasant aroma"

Derived forms: red cedars

Type of: arborvitae, cedar, cedar tree, cedarwood, pencil cedar, pencil cedar tree

Part of: Calocedrus, genus Calocedrus, genus Thuja, thuja, thuya

Encyclopedia: Red cedar