heartwood

noun

heart·wood | \ ˈhärt-ˌwu̇d

Definition of heartwood

: the older harder nonliving central wood of trees that is usually darker, denser, less permeable, and more durable than the surrounding sapwood

Examples of heartwood in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Branches, bark, and heartwood—what appears to be nothing more than floating debris—become either home to or sustenance for a range of plants and animals. — Brian Payton, Smithsonian, "How Driftwood Reshapes Ecosystems," 9 Feb. 2018 The arts—the school’s core mission—have been cleaned out: 10 easels, nine digital pianos, eight heartwood djembes, and four conga drums, all gone. — Annie Waldman, Slate Magazine, "Failing Charter Schools Have a Reincarnation Plan," 19 Sep. 2017 For decking that's 100 percent heartwood, the CRA suggests using construction heart redwood. — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, "How to Choose a Deck Material That Is Right for You," 6 June 2017 However, the level of weather- and bug-resistance is directly related to the amount of heartwood in the boards. — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, "How to Choose a Deck Material That Is Right for You," 6 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'heartwood.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.