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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

Please let us stand in front of the house at Smith Street, every one of us, just the way Maggie drew it on the wood.

From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff

Roku founder Anthony Wood will join the Fox board of directors.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026

If approved, the increases would also apply at St John's Sports Centre and Nunnery Wood Sports Complex, both of which are owned by Freedom Leisure.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 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

When he was well enough to get out of bed, he carried The Illustrated Natural History by J. G. Wood under one arm, and a book about Africa under the other.

From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple

“A star had told him he’d make a fortune from the treasures the woods spat out.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

Deeper into the woods, where “The Rings of Power” is shooting a battle scene from the opening episode of Season 3, the orcs wait patiently to be called to set.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 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

"Obviously that will bring some of the wildlife out of the woods, like voles and mice, and I was hoping that the barn owls would then thrive even more than they are already," he said.

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 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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