birch
Americannoun
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any tree or shrub of the genus Betula, comprising species with a smooth, laminated outer bark and close-grained wood.
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the wood itself.
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a birch rod, or a bundle of birch twigs, used especially for whipping.
adjective
verb (used with object)
noun
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any betulaceous tree or shrub of the genus Betula, having thin peeling bark See also silver birch
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the hard close-grained wood of any of these trees
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a bundle of birch twigs or a birch rod used, esp formerly, for flogging offenders
adjective
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of, relating to, or belonging to the birch
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consisting or made of birch
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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birchsimple
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birchessimple
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have birchedperfect
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has birchedperfect
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am birchingprogressive
-
are birchingprogressive
-
is birchingprogressive
-
have been birchingperfect progressive
-
has been birchingperfect progressive
Past
-
birchedsimple
-
had birchedperfect
-
was birchingprogressive
-
were birchingprogressive
-
had been birchingperfect progressive
Future
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The cars are connected to charging points by the garages for the flats, which are in traditional red buildings bordered by birch trees and a large golf course.
From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026
Among the evidence they gathered were purchase orders for birch plywood emailed from Boise’s Pompano office, including some that arrived after investigators conducted their raid.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 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
Back in my kitchen, my eyes fixated on the birch, its yellow-brown leaves clinging to its large, twisted frame.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2025
I think about the first time I ever saw a birch tree; about the last time I saw Julian; about the first sentence that I ever learned in Greek. χαλεπá τá καλá.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
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.
