Definition

1. Noun:

   • A large area of land covered with trees and undergrowth; a wooded area, often larger than a wood.
   • The trees, plants, and wildlife collectively that exist within such an area.

2. Verb:

   • To convert (land) into forest; to plant trees over an area of land.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The Amazon rainforest is the largest tropical forest in the world.
  • We went for a hike in the national forest.
• Verb:
  • The government plans to forest the hillsides to prevent soil erosion.
  • Efforts to forest the reclaimed mining land have begun.

Advanced Usage

• "to see the forest for the trees": To understand the overall situation or the "big picture" without getting distracted by small details.
  • With all these minor issues, I'm worried we can't see the forest for the trees.
• "a forest of": Used metaphorically to describe a dense, vertical cluster of things.
  • A forest of television antennas stood on the roof.

Variants and Related Words

• Forested (adj): Covered with forest.
  • The island is heavily forested.
• Forestation (n): The act of planting a forest; afforestation.
  • The project's goal is the forestation of the plains.
• Forestry (n): The science or practice of planting, managing, and caring for forests.
  • He studied forestry in university.

Synonyms

• Woodland: Land covered with trees.
• Woods: (Often smaller than a forest) An area covered with trees.
• Timberland: Land covered with forest suitable for producing timber.

Phrasal Verbs / Related Verb Phrases

(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs. The verb "forest" is typically used transitively.)

Related Idioms

• Not see the forest for the trees: To be unable to understand a situation clearly because you are focusing too much on small details.
  • By arguing over every single word, the committee failed to see the forest for the trees and rejected a good proposal.

Noun

1. land that is covered with trees and shrubs
2. the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

Verb

1. establish a forest on previously unforested land
   • afforest the mountains