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timberline
noun
tim·ber·line
ˈtim-bər-ˌlīn
: the upper limit of arboreal growth in mountains or high latitudes
called also tree line
Examples of timberline in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Guiding me into the highlands for red deer, a 300-pound ungulate that lives above timberline amid the picturesque heather, is John Caithness, an affable fifty-something veteran stalker who knows the many hidden coulees and pastures of the estate where stags tend to frequent.
—Chris Dorsey, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024
The avalanche danger in those areas is rated as considerable at and above timberline, and moderate below timberline, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
—John Meyer, The Denver Post, 13 May 2024
In this mile-wide basin above timberline were about 50 elk — cows, calves, young bulls, great patriarchs with brown, massive, six-point antlers tipped with ivory.
—Jack O'Connor, Outdoor Life, 2 May 2024
In the West, where elk hunting is most common, hunters can pursue elk from an elevation as low as 4,000 feet to well above the timberline.
—Jace Bauserman, Field & Stream, 22 Feb. 2024
Aksai Chin also features steep mountains, many far above the timberline, with lakes, streams, and narrow roads cut along mountainsides and through mountain passes.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 14 Aug. 2023
The out-and-back trek climbs above timberline.
—Larry Bleiberg, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2021
Or hiking above the timberline on Humphreys Peak, climbing past the last few twisted bristlecone pines to cross a final stretch of alpine tundra and stand for a moment on the roof of Arizona, where the temperature has to be almost chilly, right?
—Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 17 July 2021
Hike it to the top of Mount Abe, one of the state’s five 4,000-foot peaks; the rocky summit pokes above the timberline and offers stunning 360-degree views that span from the Adirondacks in the west to New Hampshire’s White Mountains in the east.
—The Editors, Outside Online, 18 Aug. 2020
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Word History
First Known Use
1867, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near timberline
Cite this Entry
“Timberline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/timberline. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
timberline
noun
tim·ber·line
-ˌlīn
: the upper limit beyond which trees do not grow (as on mountains)
called also tree line
More from Merriam-Webster on timberline
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about timberline
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