beech

noun

ˈbēch 

plural beeches or beech

: any of a genus (Fagus of the family Fagaceae, the beech family) of hardwood trees with smooth gray bark and small edible nuts

also : its wood

beechen

ˈbē-chən 

adjective

Examples of beech in a Sentence

a box made of beech

Recent Examples on the Web

The house was surrounded by fifty acres of woods: beech, oak, chestnut, magnolia. —Rosanna Warren, Harper's Magazine, 25 June 2024

Yet European beeches reliably mast together despite huge differences in regional weather. —Quanta Magazine, 18 June 2024

These moths enjoy open spaces in forests and host on oak, cherry, beech, apple, and buttonbush trees. —Mariyam Muhammad, The Enquirer, 9 July 2024

The Jefferson Memorial Forest is a 6,600-acre sylvan landscape known for its steep hills and hardwood canopy of beech, maple and oak trees, its understory dotted with flowering dogwood and redbud trees. —James Bruggers, The Courier-Journal, 1 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English beche, from Old English bēce; akin to Old English bōc beech, Old High German buohha, Latin fagus, Greek phēgos oak

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing beech

• copper beech

Kids Definition

beech

noun

ˈbēch 

plural beeches or beech

: any of a genus of trees with smooth gray bark and small edible nuts

also : its wood

beechen

ˈbē-chən 

adjective