Definition

1. Noun:
   • A unit of volume for lumber: A "board foot" is a specific measurement equal to the volume of a piece of wood that is one foot long, one foot wide, and one inch thick. It is the standard unit used in the lumber industry in the United States and Canada.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The price for this oak is $5 per board foot. (The cost is calculated for each unit of volume measuring 144 cubic inches.)
  • We need to calculate how many board feet are in this timber. (We need to determine the total volume of the wood using this specific unit.)

Advanced Usage

• "Board foot" as a calculation: The formula to calculate board feet is: (Length (ft) × Width (in) × Thickness (in)) / 12. This standardizes the measurement of lumber regardless of its specific dimensions.
  • A plank that is 8 feet long, 6 inches wide, and 2 inches thick contains 8 board feet: (8 × 6 × 2) / 12 = 8.

Variants and Related Words

• Board foot measure (n): Another term for the board foot unit.
• Super foot (n): A synonymous term used in some regions, equivalent to a board foot.

Synonyms

• None: "Board foot" is a precise technical unit with no true synonyms in common usage. Related terms describe the concept but are not interchangeable units (e.g., cubic foot, which is a different volume).

Related Phrases

• Per board foot: Used to state a price or rate based on this unit.
  • The exotic wood was sold for $15 per board foot.

Related Idioms

• None: "Board foot" is a technical term and is not used in idiomatic expressions.

Noun

1. the volume of a piece of wood 1 foot square and 1 inch thick