noun
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the open-grained wood of any of numerous coniferous trees, such as pine and cedar, as distinguished from that of a dicotyledonous tree
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any tree yielding this wood
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A coniferous tree, especially as distinguished from an angiosperm, or hardwood, tree.
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The wood of a coniferous tree. Softwoods are in general softer than hardwoods. However, some softwoods, such as yew, are comparatively hard, while some hardwoods, such as basswood, are comparatively soft.
Etymology
Origin of softwood
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Softwood lumber duties are going to hurt this spring."
From Reuters • Jan. 19, 2022
Softwood lumber prices, for example, jumped by 61% in March, but have begun falling again.
From Time Magazine Archive
Charging that a deal at this Red cut price had already been made by London's Central Softwood Buying Corp.
From Time Magazine Archive
Softwood cuttings, treated the same as the previous year, were inserted on August 20.
From Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the 44th Annual Meeting Rochester, N.Y. August 31 and September 1, 1953 by Northern Nut Growers Association
Softwood or greenwood cuttings are usually made of wood that is mature enough to break when it is bent sharply.
From Manual of Gardening (Second Edition) by Bailey, L. H. (Liberty Hyde)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
