birch

American  

[burch] / bɜrtʃ /

noun

1. any tree or shrub of the genus Betula, comprising species with a smooth, laminated outer bark and close-grained wood.

2. the wood itself.

3. a birch rod, or a bundle of birch twigs, used especially for whipping.

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adjective

1. birchen.

verb (used with object)

1. to beat or punish with or as if with a birch.

   The young ruffians were birched soundly by their teacher.

birch British  

/ bɜːtʃ /

noun

1. any betulaceous tree or shrub of the genus Betula, having thin peeling bark See also silver birch

2. the hard close-grained wood of any of these trees

3. a bundle of birch twigs or a birch rod used, esp formerly, for flogging offenders

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the birch

2. consisting or made of birch

verb

1. (tr) to flog with a birch

Other Word Forms

• birchen adjective

Etymology

Origin of birch

before 900; Middle English birche, Old English birce; cognate with Old High German birka ( German Birke ); akin to Sanskrit bhūrja kind of birch

Example Sentences

Red brick buildings stand alongside towering maple, oak, birch and sycamore trees.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Only raccoons are said to live in the Karlshorst buildings and birch saplings are sprouting out of a balcony.

From Barron's • Feb. 8, 2026

In one jaw-dropping shot, a skinny plane flies on its side through a thick birch forest.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 20, 2025

He says a study by the University of Worcester showed oak and grass pollen seasons are starting earlier and birch pollen is becoming more severe.

From BBC • Jul. 19, 2025

But when his arms had turned to water and he could chop no more, he saw with alarm that he’d only managed to cut down two spindly birch saplings and a puny little spruce.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

Related Words

• beat up
• clobber
• crush
• defeat
• maul
• overwhelm
• paste
• pummel
• rout
• spank
• trounce
• whip