Main Entry: ¹for·est

Pronunciation: \ˈfȯr-əst, ˈfär-\

Function: noun

Usage: often attributive

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin forestis (silva) unenclosed (woodland), from Latin foris outside — more at forum

Date: 13th century

1 : a dense growth of trees and underbrush covering a large tract
2 : a tract of wooded land in England formerly owned by the sovereign and used for game
3 : something resembling a forest especially in profusion or lushness <a forest of microphones> <a kelp forest>

— for·est·al \-əs-t^əl\ or fo·res·tial \fə-ˈres-tē-əl, fȯ-, -ˈres(h)-chəl\ adjective

— for·est·ed \ˈfȯr-ə-stəd, ˈfär-\ adjective