beech

noun

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 adjective

Examples of beech in a Sentence

a box made of beech
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Complementing the advanced drivers are housings handcrafted from beech, the same wood used to make parts of Yamaha’s pianos. Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 Shades of fire and flame illuminate maples and hickories, while towering oaks and beeches change to copper before emptying their branches. Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2025 Yellow birches, beeches, and hobblebushes show flashes of color as early as mid-September in higher elevations—like those along the Sugarland Mountain and Appalachian Trails—and autumn wildflowers like coreopsis, goldenrods, asters, and black-eyed Susans add layers of other colors. Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 25 Aug. 2025 Not all trees change color, so be sure to visit areas rich in broad-leaf deciduous trees, or those that shed their leaves annually, such as oak, birch and beech trees. Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 15 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for beech

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of beech was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beech.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beech. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

beech

noun
plural beeches or beech
: any of a genus of trees with smooth gray bark and small edible nuts
also : its wood
beechen adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on beech

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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