softwood

[sawft-wood, soft-]

noun

1. any wood that is relatively soft or easily cut.

2. a tree yielding such a wood.

3. Forestry.,  a coniferous tree or its wood.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or made of softwood.

softwood

/ ˈsɒftˌwʊd /

noun

1. the open-grained wood of any of numerous coniferous trees, such as pine and cedar, as distinguished from that of a dicotyledonous tree

2. any tree yielding this wood

softwood

1. A coniferous tree, especially as distinguished from an angiosperm, or hardwood, tree.

2. The wood of a coniferous tree. Softwoods are in general softer than hardwoods. However, some softwoods, such as yew, are comparatively hard, while some hardwoods, such as basswood, are comparatively soft.

Word History and Origins

Origin of softwood¹

First recorded in 1825–35; soft + wood ¹

Example Sentences

Prices for lumber and other sawmill products were up month-on-month, led by softwood lumber.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

And more recent levies are expected to affect Canada’s copper, furniture and softwood lumber.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The additional global 10% tariffs on softwood lumber means the product from Canada - the second largest producer of globally and a major US supplier - is now tariffed at more than 45%.

Read more on BBC

The latest salvo features a 10-percent tariff on imports of softwood lumber, while duties on certain upholstered furniture and kitchen cabinets start at 25 percent.

Read more on Barron's

The US imports about a third of its softwood lumber from Canada each year, and that key building material could be hit by Trump's tariffs.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• forest 
• sapling 
• seedling 
• shrub 
• timber 
• wood