wood

1 of 4

noun

ˈwu̇d

: the hard fibrous substance consisting basically of xylem that makes up the greater part of the stems, branches, and roots of trees or shrubs beneath the bark and is found to a limited extent in herbaceous plants

: wood suitable or prepared for some use (such as burning or building)

: a dense growth of trees usually greater in extent than a grove and smaller than a forest

—often used in plural but singular or plural in construction

: woodland

: something made of wood

: a golf club having a thick wooden head

also : a golf club having a similar head made of metal

wood

2 of 4

adjective (1)

ˈwu̇d

: wooden

: suitable for cutting or working with wood

a wood saw

or woods

ˈwu̇dz

: living, growing, or existing in woods

woods trails

wood

3 of 4

verb

ˈwu̇d

wooded; wooding; woods

intransitive verb

: to gather or take on wood

transitive verb

: to cover with a growth of trees or plant with trees

wood

4 of 4

adjective (2)

ˈwüd

ˈwōd

ˈwu̇d

archaic

: violently mad

Phrases

out of the woods

: clear of danger or difficulty

Example Sentences

Noun Some baseball bats are made out of wood. The wood on the deck has begun to rot. Their house is near a small wood. A thick woods runs along the boundary of the estate. The house is surrounded by woods. He went for a hike in the woods. She hit a wood off the tee. See More

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English wode, from Old English widu, wudu; akin to Old High German witu wood, Old Irish fid tree

Adjective (2)

Middle English, from Old English wōd insane; akin to Old High German wuot madness — more at vatic

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Adjective (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1613, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Adjective (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

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

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Wood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wood. Accessed 8 Dec. 2022.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

wood

1 of 2 noun

ˈwu̇d

: a dense growth of trees usually smaller than a forest

—often used in plural

a thick woods runs along the ridge

: a hard fibrous substance that is basically xylem and makes up the greater part of the stems, branches, and roots of trees or shrubs beneath the bark

also : this material prepared for some use (as burning or building)

: something made of wood

especially : a golf club having a wooden head

wood

2 of 2 adjective