: of, relating to, or being a forest characterized by the presence of large old trees, numerous snags and woody debris, and a multilayered canopy and that is usually in a late stage of ecological succession
old growth noun

Examples of old-growth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The pastry-centric cafe invites visitors to take a break beneath old-growth oak trees while indulging in a flakes-for-days pain au chocolat ($6.25) – or an especially decadent almond chocolate croissant ($7.25). Linda Zavoral, The Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2025 More than 40 acres of the resort are undeveloped, giving guests the chance to explore wetlands, old-growth forests, and a historic quarry with a waterfall that’s active year-round, all without leaving the property. Mae Hamilton, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2025 Early efforts to save the bird and its rapidly disappearing old-growth forest habitat rocked the timber industry in the early 1990s. Alice Jones Webb, Outdoor Life, 13 Mar. 2025 The Old Growth Forest Network, a non-profit formed in 2012, documents old-growth forest locations in all 50 states. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 4 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for old-growth

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of old-growth was in 1868

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Cite this Entry

“Old-growth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/old-growth. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

old-growth

adjective
ˈōl(d)-ˈgrōth
: of, relating to, or being a forest characterized by the presence of large old trees, dead standing trees, and fallen rotting trees and that is usually in a late stage of development
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