woody

1 of 2

adjective

woodier; woodiest
1
: abounding or overgrown with woods
2
a
: of or containing wood or wood fibers : ligneous
woody tissues
b
: having woody parts : rich in xylem and associated structures
woody plants
3
: characteristic of or suggestive of wood
wine with a woody flavor
woodiness noun

woody

2 of 2

noun

variants or woodie
plural woodies
: a wood-paneled station wagon

Examples of woody in a Sentence

Adjective a woody piece of land
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Grasses follow a distinct form of photosynthesis known as the C4 pathway, while woody vegetation, like trees and bushes, follow another, the C3 pathway. Ryan McRae, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Dec. 2023 Question 8 of 10 English ale is described as earthy, full-bodied, woody, floral, fruity, robust, malty. Leslie Shapiro, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023 There was a concentrating effect in a barrel over time, thus the Singapore whiskey will be perceived as woodier and more flavorful. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 6 Sep. 2023 Root loosening is especially critical for shrubs and trees, whose major roots can eventually become woody and inflexible with age, retaining elbowed bends and circling habits that can hamper growth or cause dieback years down the line. Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 19 June 2023 The guayule plant is a short, woody shrub that grows easily in the deserts of the American Southwest and requires much less water than crops like alfalfa or cotton that are also grown there. Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 13 Apr. 2023 This version, with the addition of Guaiac Wood, is smokier and woodier—and lasts way longer. Garrett Munce, Men's Health, 28 Feb. 2023 Extreme wildfires, like the Camp Fire that burned more than 153,000 acres and killed more than 80 people in 2018 or the Dixie Fire that’s now been burning for months and still isn’t fully contained, usually ignite and grow in dense forests that are too woody to graze sheep and goats. Vogue, 29 Sep. 2021 The base features ambroxan, cedar and sweet-woody labdanum. Dallas News, 30 Nov. 2022
Noun
Record-high temperatures and this extreme drought have sapped the Amazon’s trees of their moisture, leaving the forest understory littered with woody debris that has grown dry, primed to ignite. Quentin Septer, WIRED, 11 Mar. 2024 The last is a clump of tree trunks, woody but arranged in a configuration that resembles a human heart. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Ineligible are all palm varieties, woody plants used to create hedges, weeping trees with soft branches that touch the ground, certain invasive species and trees that don’t provide sufficient shade or are pruned to reduce their canopy, according to the district. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Discard the woody asparagus ends, or save them for stock. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2024 Each has provided paintings, photographs, sculptures, and even installations for spaces that glow with a woody, analog warmth, inspired by the muted palette of a 1920s West Berlin apartment. Rick Jordan, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Feb. 2024 Bamboo is the fastest-growing woody plant in the world. Deb Wiley, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2024 Don’t cut its woody branches; only trim the spent green stems, which will encourage more pretty blooms. Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 12 Feb. 2024 Forcing cut woody stems into bloom this time of year is not just about a little color in the dining room. Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 9 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'woody.' 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

alteration of wood entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1961, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of woody was in the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near woody

Cite this Entry

“Woody.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/woody. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

woody

adjective
ˈwu̇d-ē
woodier; woodiest
1
: having or covered with trees
a woody piece of land
2
: of or containing wood or wood fibers
woody plant tissue
3
: characteristic of or similar to wood
a woody texture

More from Merriam-Webster on woody

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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