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basswood

American  
[bas-wood] / ˈbæsˌwʊd /

noun

  1. any tree of the genus Tilia, especially T. americana, the American linden, having drooping branches and large, toothed, ovate leaves.

  2. the wood of a linden.


basswood British  
/ ˈbæsˌwʊd /

noun

  1. Sometimes shortened to: bass. any of several North American linden trees, esp Tilia americana

  2. the soft light-coloured wood of any of these trees, used for furniture

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of basswood

An Americanism dating back to 1660–70; bass 3 + wood 1


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.

See Examples For:

Rather like an orthopedic pin for a broken bone, a made-to-measure basswood “implant” was then inserted into each crack.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 18, 2024

Among them: red maple, red oak, basswood and ironwood.

From Scientific American ● May 5, 2023

They soaked basswood in a solution of hydrogen peroxide, which chops normally long lignin molecules into small fragments.

From Science Magazine ● May 23, 2019

His heads are made of basswood, the soft, sap-free trunk of the linden tree.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 25, 2019

“They’re basswood blanks. Dad uses these to whittle.”

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

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