birch

1 of 2

noun

1
: 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
2
: the hard pale close-grained wood of a birch
3
: a birch rod or bundle of twigs for flogging
birch adjective
or birchen

birch

2 of 2

verb

birched; birching; birches

transitive verb

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

Examples of birch in a Sentence

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
Start at La Bee da Loca for honey bee finds, then head to The Bear & The Blade for handmade outdoor goods, like wax canvas pouches and birch boxes. Erin Gifford, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2024 Height: 35-50 feet Width: 35-50 feet Hardiness: Zones 4-9 10 of 10 Paperbark Maple Paperbark maple (Acer griseum) has beautiful cinnamon-colored bark that peels much like paperbark birch. Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Sep. 2024
Verb
Find yellow aspen and birch along the shoreline and red maples inland. Kerri Westenberg, Star Tribune, 11 Sep. 2020 See all Example Sentences for birch 

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

Dictionary Entries Near birch

Cite this Entry

“Birch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/birch. Accessed 11 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

birch

1 of 2 noun
1
: any of a genus of trees or shrubs with typically an outer bark that peels easily in thin layers and leaves that are shed each fall
also : its hard pale close-grained wood
2
: a birch rod or bundle of twigs used as a whip
birch adjective
or birchen

birch

2 of 2 verb
: to whip with or as if with a birch

More from Merriam-Webster on birch

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