noun
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the wood of any of numerous broad-leaved dicotyledonous trees, such as oak, beech, ash, etc, as distinguished from the wood of a conifer
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any tree from which this wood is obtained
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A eudicot or magnoliid tree, especially as distinguished from a coniferous, or softwood, tree.
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The wood of a eudicot or magnoliid tree. Hardwoods are in general harder than softwood. However, some hardwoods, such as basswood, are comparatively soft, while some softwoods, such as yew, are comparatively hard.
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Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of hardwood
Vocabulary lists containing hardwood
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.
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“In recent years, the property upgrades include a new pool heater, new hardwood floors throughout the home, a new roof on the carport, and landscaping around the property,” says Raigeul.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
Clark, an inveterate trash-talker and hyper-competitive athlete, has seemed completely uninterested in courting controversy away from the hardwood.
From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2026
Her criteria was specific: A 1920s or 1930s Spanish-style studio with oversize windows, lots of natural light, a fireplace, hardwood floors and character-rich tile work.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2026
Elegant design details are found throughout the home, which boasts vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, hardwood flooring, and top-of-the-line materials.
From MarketWatch ● May 18, 2026
With Fadi’s help she’d kept the camera focused on a particular spot, at the center of the hardwood floor, waiting for the whirling dancers to enter the frame.
From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai
The exhibition also spotlighted India's diverse range of high-quality hardwoods such as teak, rosewood and ebony, and the country's deeply-rooted traditions of intricate handcrafting by local artisans.
From BBC ● Mar. 13, 2026
Founded in 1973 with one sawmill in Riverton, West Virginia, Allegheny Wood Products has grown to eight sawmills in the state and touts itself as one of the largest producers of eastern U.S. hardwoods.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 27, 2023
In contrast to fast-growing pines, hardwoods that grow in bottomlands like these produce wood so slowly that a landowner might get only one harvest in a lifetime, Mr. Stanley said.
From New York Times ● Feb. 16, 2023
Some varieties prefer to grow in manure, others like living trees and still others flourish on decaying hardwoods like oak logs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 1, 2023
He seemed happy to answer my endless questions, chatting about everything from the various dynastic eras to the differences among vessel forms and the characteristics of certain hardwoods.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
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.
