birch

1 of 2

noun

ˈbərch

: any of a genus (Betula of the family Betulaceae, the birch family) of monoecious deciduous trees or shrubs having simple petioled leaves and typically a layered membranous outer bark that peels readily

: the hard pale close-grained wood of a birch

: a birch rod or bundle of twigs for flogging

birch adjective

or birchen

ˈbər-chən

birch

2 of 2

verb

birched; birching; birches

transitive verb

: to beat with or as if with a birch : whip

Example Sentences

Noun a cabinet made of birch In those days, schoolchildren got the birch when they misbehaved. Verb students at the private school were once routinely birched for violating the rules always a stern disciplinarian, our father birched anyone who talked back

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Cottages, bungalows, and treetop lodges dot the 60 acres of birch tree wilderness. —

Marissa Hermer, Travel + Leisure, 27 May 2023 Floor-to-ceiling red birch cabinetry with opaque-panel doors at the top rings the room, offering more storage. —

John R. Ellement, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Apr. 2023 That fades to reveal birch, pink berries, patchouli and jasmine at the fragrance’s core, and then base notes of ambergris, sandalwood, oakmoss and vanilla. —

Dallas News, 30 Nov. 2022 Three different serving trays made from birch are perfect for cookie exchanges or simply as decor in your kitchen during the holiday season. —

Claire Harmeyer, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2022 The store itself was made from cedar wood and bark-on birch logs that fell after a winter storm. —

New York Times, 21 Apr. 2022 It is sited in an immersive landscape of river birches, flowering plants, grasses and ferns, a setting inspired by the sculpture itself and the birch forests near Kusama’s childhood home. —

Jane Levere, Forbes, 8 Apr. 2021 The onset of allergies starts for many; birch pollen can be quite the histamine inducer. —

Jeff Lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, 4 May 2023 And dips into bathhouse water may have loosened jewelry adhesives, such as birch bark resin, and caused metal settings to expand and contract. —

Franz Lidz, New York Times, 1 May 2023

Verb

Find yellow aspen and birch along the shoreline and red maples inland. —

Kerri Westenberg, Star Tribune, 11 Sep. 2020 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'birch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English beorc; akin to Old High German birka birch, Old English beorht bright, and probably to Latin fraxinus ash tree — more at bright

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1808, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of birch was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century