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• wood
  wood

  noun

  the hard, fibrous substance composing most of the stem and branches of a tree or shrub, and lying beneath the bark; the xylem.
• Wood
  Wood

  noun

  Grant, 1892–1942, U.S. painter.

wood

¹ American  

[wood] / wʊd /

noun

• woods
  plural

1. the hard, fibrous substance composing most of the stem and branches of a tree or shrub, and lying beneath the bark; the xylem.

2. the trunks or main stems of trees as suitable for architectural and other purposes; timber or lumber.

3. firewood.

4. the cask, barrel, or keg, as distinguished from the bottle.

   aged in the wood.

5. woodblock.

6. Music.

   1. a woodwind instrument.

   2. the section of a band or orchestra composed of woodwinds.

7. (used with a singular or plural verb) Often woods a large and thick collection of growing trees; a grove or forest.

   They picnicked in the woods.

8. Golf. a club with a wooden head, as a driver, brassie, spoon, or baffy for hitting long shots.

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adjective

1. made of wood; wooden.

2. used to store, work, or carry wood.

   a wood chisel.

3. dwelling or growing in woods.

   wood bird.

verb (used with object)

1. to cover or plant with trees.

2. to supply with wood; get supplies of wood for.

verb (used without object)

1. to take in or get supplies of wood (often followed byup ).

   to wood up before the approach of winter.

idioms

1. knock on wood, (used when knocking on something wooden to assure continued good luck): Also touch wood.

   The car's still in good shape, knock on wood.

2. have the wood on, to have an advantage over or have information that can be used against.

3. out of the woods,

   1. out of a dangerous, perplexing, or difficult situation; secure; safe.

   2. no longer in precarious health or critical condition; out of danger and recovering.

wood ² American  

[wood] / wʊd /

adjective

Archaic.

1. wild, as with rage or excitement.

2. mad; insane.

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Wood ³ American  

[wood] / wʊd /

noun

1. Grant, 1892–1942, U.S. painter.

2. Leonard, 1860–1927, U.S. military doctor and political administrator.

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wood ¹ British  

/ wʊd /

noun

1. the hard fibrous substance consisting of xylem tissue that occurs beneath the bark in trees, shrubs, and similar plants

2. the trunks of trees that have been cut and prepared for use as a building material

3. a collection of trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses, etc, usually dominated by one or a few species of tree: usually smaller than a forest

   an oak wood

4. fuel; firewood

5. golf

   1. a long-shafted club with a broad wooden or metal head, used for driving: numbered from 1 to 7 according to size, angle of face, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a wood shot

6. tennis squash badminton the frame of a racket

   he hit a winning shot off the wood

7. one of the biased wooden bowls used in the game of bowls

8. music short for woodwind See also woods

9. 1. casks, barrels, etc, made of wood

   2. (of a beverage) from a wooden container rather than a metal or glass one

10. informal to have an advantage over

11. clear of or safe from dangers or doubts

    we're not out of the wood yet

12. (used with a negative) to obtain a general view of a situation, problem, etc, without allowing details to cloud one's analysis

    he can't see the wood for the trees

13. (modifier) made of, used for, employing, or handling wood

    a wood fire

14. (modifier) dwelling in, concerning, or situated in a wood

    a wood nymph

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verb

1. (tr) to plant a wood upon

2. to supply or be supplied with fuel or firewood

Wood ² British  

/ wʊd /

noun

1. Mrs Henry , married name of Ellen Price . 1814–87, British novelist, noted esp for the melodramatic novel East Lynne (1861)

2. Sir Henry ( Joseph ). 1869–1944, English conductor, who founded the Promenade Concerts in London

3. John, known as the Elder . 1707–54, British architect and town planner, working mainly in Bath, where he designed the North and South Parades (1728) and the Circus (1754)

4. his son, John , known as the Younger . 1727–82, British architect: designed the Royal Crescent (1767–71) and the Assembly Rooms (1769–71), Bath

5. Ralph. 1715–72, British potter, working in Staffordshire, who made the first toby jug (1762)

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wood ³ British  

/ wʊd /

adjective

1. obsolete raging or raving like a maniac

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Synonym Usage

See forest.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• woodless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• woods
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of wood¹

First recorded before 900; from Middle English, from Old English wudu, earlier widu; cognate with Old Norse vithr, Old High German witu, Old Irish fid

Origin of wood²

First recorded before 900; Middle English wod(e), wodde, Old English wōd; cognate with Old Norse ōthr “mad, frantic”; akin to German Wut “rage,” Old English wōth “song” (because it was due to inspired madness; cf. enthusiast ( def. ))

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wood Wood woods

It’s as if the best version of the actor-filmmaker has returned to us, minus all the unfortunate layers of ego he accumulated like garish paint slapped over simple, honest wood.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026

The kitchen is fabulously designed with custom wood cabinetry contrasted against dark countertops and fixtures that boldly add depth to the room.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 4, 2026

A fertile area of Egypt on the edge of the desert, Fayum's arid climate helped preserve the delicate painted wood, textiles and papyrus on display in the exhibition.

From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2026

I arrange flowers, lighting and scented candles, sometimes with wood notes, sometimes with spicier ones.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026

I chop more wood, splintering it into stakes.

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

St Boniface and St Martin in the Wood said they will be available for people to pause for reflection or light a candle.

From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026

As well as starring in Hollywood blockbuster Cleopatra, and was known for his powerful performances in Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood and Shakespearean stage roles.

From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026

Wood usually decays over time, making it exceptionally difficult for archaeologists to recover evidence of ancient woodworking and weapon technology.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026

“American Gothic” brought Wood, who had been earning a modest living as an art teacher, craftsman and interior designer in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, sudden fame.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

Five miles to the west of Château-Thierry, a forest called the Belleau Wood had become a German stronghold.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

Scientists say the crossing will let the big cats seek mates in the Simi Hills and beyond — and allow fresh blood to travel into their neck of the woods.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026

Species such as curlew, mountain bumblebee, lapwing and other wading birds have made it their home with endangered red squirrels finding safety in the woods.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

As a child, Chin practiced violin for an hour a day—staring out the window into the woods and wishing he was there—followed by two hours of swimming and two hours of martial arts before homework.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

Meanwhile, the building’s interiors will draw inspiration from Miami’s tropical surroundings, incorporating greenery, natural woods, stone finishes, and textured materials to create a calming atmosphere.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026

“Wasn’t afraid. We walked for almost a year. Over rough terrain. Crossing streams, rivers. Snarled woods and swamps. Just us two.”

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

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Related Words

• lumber
• timber
• woodland

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