growth ring

noun

: a layer of wood (such as an annual ring) produced during a single period of growth

Examples of growth ring in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Join 7 others in the comments View Comments In these trees, growth rings that dated back to around 2900 BC were unusually close together, suggesting a poor growing season. Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 23 Jan. 2025 After slicing and staining their samples, the researchers then slid them under a microscope to measure their growth rings, as well as their blue rings. Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025 Teeth grow by the acquisition of daily growth rings. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 13 Nov. 2024 To determine at what age the animals had died, researchers used X-ray imaging to count the growth rings on their teeth, like how botanists count the rings of a tree. Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for growth ring 

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of growth ring was in 1907

Dictionary Entries Near growth ring

Cite this Entry

“Growth ring.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/growth%20ring. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

growth ring

noun
: a layer of wood (as an annual ring) produced during a single period of growth

More from Merriam-Webster on growth ring

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!