Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Cypress \Cy"press\ (s?"pr?s), n.; pl. {Cypresses} (-?z). [OE.
   cipres, cipresse, OF. cipres, F. cypr?s, L. cupressus,
   cyparissus (cf. the usual Lat. form cupressus), fr. Gr. ????,
   perh. of Semitic origin; cf. Heb. g?pher, Gen. vi. 14.] (Bot)
   A coniferous tree of the genus {Cupressus}. The species are
   mostly evergreen, and have wood remarkable for its
   durability.

   Note: Among the trees called cypress are the common Oriental
         cypress, {Cupressus sempervirens}, the evergreen
         American cypress, {C. thyoides} (now called
         {Chamaecyparis sphaeroidea}), and the deciduous
         American cypress, {Taxodium distichum}. As having
         anciently been used at funerals, and to adorn tombs,
         the Oriental species is an emblem of mourning and
         sadness.

   {Cypress vine} (Bot.), a climbing plant with red or white
      flowers ({Ipot[oe]a Quamoclit}, formerly {Quamoclit
      vulgaris}).

Source : WordNet®

Taxodium distichum
     n : common cypress of southeastern United States having trunk
         expanded at base; found in coastal swamps and flooding
         river bottoms [syn: {bald cypress}, {swamp cypress}, {pond
         bald cypress}, {southern cypress}]