Pronunciation: [ˈɛlm] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "elm" is fairly straightforward when using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). In IPA, "elm" is transcribed as /ɛlm/. The first sound, /ɛ/, is the "short e" sound and is followed by the letter "l." The final sound is the "m" sound, represented as /m/. In English, the letter "e" can sometimes be pronounced with a long "e" sound, but in this case, it is pronounced with the shorter "e" sound.
Elm refers to a type of deciduous tree that belongs to the Ulmaceae family. The term "elm" is commonly used to describe various species from the Ulmus genus, which includes over 30 different types of elms. These trees are widely recognized for their large, spreading canopies, attractive leaves, and smooth, grayish bark. They have a long history of being cultivated for their ornamental value and are often found in parks, gardens, and urban landscapes.
Elms typically grow to considerable heights, ranging from 50 to 150 feet (15 to 46 meters), depending on the species. They have oval-shaped or slightly serrated leaves that alternate along the twigs. The leaves are usually dark green in color during the summer, turning into vibrant shades of yellow or red during autumn. Elm flowers are small and inconspicuous, producing winged seeds known as samaras that disperse in the wind.
Known for their sturdy wood, elms have been traditionally used in furniture making and construction due to their resistance to splitting. However, the elm population has been significantly impacted by Dutch elm disease, a fungal infection that has caused widespread decline and mortality of many elm species worldwide.
Overall, the term "elm" encompasses a diverse group of trees known for their beauty, height, and cultural significance, but also highlighting the challenges they have faced due to disease.
Ulmus.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The name of a well-known tree.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "elm" comes from the Old English word "elm", which is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "elmaz". This word is ultimately related to the Proto-Indo-European word "*h₁elh₁én" meaning "red" or "brown". The name likely refers to the reddish-brown color of the elm wood.
