wood

1 of 4

noun

ˈwu̇d 

1

a

: 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

b

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

2

a

: 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

b

: woodland

3

a

: something made of wood

b

: 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 

1

: wooden

2

: suitable for cutting or working with wood

a wood saw

3

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

Synonyms

Noun

• lumber
• timber

Examples of wood in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The new store is said to be a big priority for the brand, and has been built around creative director Anthony Vaccarello’s vision of blending raw materials such as a black wood staircase, marble displays, corduroy concrete and black mirror walls with more classic elements. —Rhonda Richford, WWD, 11 Dec. 2024

Cave pearls are known to form around a nucleus, which can be made from a number of materials, such as rocky fragments, mud pieces, blue algae, wood shreds and animal bones. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024

Adjective

The only downside of this top-tier furniture polish is that it can’t be used on non-wood items. —Rachel Simon, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Feb. 2023

Classified as a Bureau Veritas Clean Ship, its decks are made from non-wood recyclable resin and its exhaust catalysts filter 99.8 percent of fine particles. —Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 28 Jan. 2022

Verb

Of course, the setting deviates from the dark, moody woods one associates with the Brothers Grimm—instead of the Black Forest, this enchanted cabin is surrounded by palm trees and California live oaks, basking in the sunshine. —Mayer Rus, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2024

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

Phrases Containing wood

• calamander wood
• hen of the wood
• knock on wood
• not see the wood for the trees
• wood alcohol
• wood anemone
• wood betony
• wood bison
• wood-boring
• wood carving
• wood duck
• wood ear
• wood engraving
• wood frog
• wood louse
• wood nymph
• wood pigeon
• wood pulp
• wood pussy
• wood rat
• wood ray
• wood shot
• wood sorrel
• wood stork
• wood sugar
• wood thrush
• wood tick
• wood turning
• wood turpentine
• wood warbler

Kids Definition

wood

1 of 2 noun

ˈwu̇d 

1

: a dense growth of trees usually smaller than a forest

—often used in plural

a thick woods runs along the ridge

2

: 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)

3

: something made of wood

especially : a golf club having a wooden head

wood

2 of 2 adjective

1

: wooden sense 1

2

: suitable for cutting or working wood

wood chisels

3

or woods

ˈwu̇dz

: living, growing, or existing in woods

Biographical Definition

Wood 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

ˈwu̇d 

Grant (DeVolson) 1892–1942 American painter

Wood

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

Leonard 1860–1927 American physician and general