heartwood

American  

[hahrt-wood] / ˈhɑrtˌwʊd /

noun

1. the hard central wood of the trunk of an exogenous tree; duramen.

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heartwood British  

/ ˈhɑːtˌwʊd /

noun

1. the central core of dark hard wood in tree trunks, consisting of nonfunctioning xylem tissue that has become blocked with resins, tannins, and oils Compare sapwood

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heartwood Scientific  

/ härt′wd′ /

1. The older, nonliving central wood of a tree or woody plant, usually darker and harder than the younger sapwood. Unlike the sapwood, it no longer conducts water, and its main function is the support of the tree.

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Etymology

Origin of heartwood

First recorded in 1795–1805; heart + wood ¹

Compare meaning

How does heartwood compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• heartwood vs. sapwood

Example Sentences

Slowly by the seasons, one kernel at a time, you will feel your heartwood restored.

From Salon • Dec. 18, 2023

The death-pitted dormant tree looks ahead without a flicker in its heartwood.

From Scientific American • Sep. 30, 2022

Though dozens of mills have closed over the decades, trucks still hurtle down Highway 20 carrying stacks of hulking redwoods, easy to distinguish by their crimson heartwood.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2022

Old trees have idiosyncratic features - a different canopy, different branch systems, a lot of cavities, thicker bark and more heartwood.

From New York Times • Dec. 7, 2012

He sees tall ranks of firs swaying in a storm, hears their heartwood groan.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr