Definition

1. Noun:
   • The hard fibrous substance: The hard, fibrous material that forms the main substance of a tree or shrub beneath the bark, used as a building material, fuel, or for making objects.
   • A forest or wooded area: (Often plural: woods) A dense collection of trees covering a relatively large area, smaller than a forest.
   • A type of golf club: A golf club with a long shaft, traditionally having a head made of wood, used for hitting the ball long distances.
   • A wind instrument: (Often plural: the wood(s)) A wind instrument made of wood, such as a clarinet or oboe, or the section of an orchestra containing such instruments.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Material):
  • The table is made of solid wood.
  • We need more wood for the fireplace.
• Noun (Forested Area):
  • They went for a walk in the woods behind the house.
• Noun (Golf):
  • He selected his 3-wood for the long tee shot.
• Noun (Music):
  • The melody is carried by the woods in this section of the symphony.

Advanced Usage

• Out of the woods: No longer in danger or difficulty.
  • The patient is improving but is not out of the woods yet.
• Can't see the wood for the trees: To be unable to understand a situation clearly because you are focusing too much on small details.
  • By worrying about every minor cost, he couldn't see the wood for the trees and missed the project's overall success.

Variants and Related Words

• Wooden (adj): Made of wood.
  • A wooden spoon.
• Woody (adj): (Of a plant) Having a stem like wood; resembling or characteristic of wood.
  • A woody stem.
• Woodland (n): Land covered with trees.
  • Protected woodland areas.
• Hardwood (n): Wood from a deciduous tree (e.g., oak, maple).
• Softwood (n): Wood from a coniferous tree (e.g., pine, fir).

Synonyms

• Timber: Processed wood prepared for use in building and carpentry.
• Lumber: (Chiefly North American) Timber sawn into rough planks.
• Forest: A large area covered chiefly with trees and undergrowth.

Phrasal Verbs / Related Verb Phrases

• Wood up (archaic): To supply or take on a supply of wood, especially for fuel.
  • The steamship stopped to wood up at the island.

Related Idioms

• Knock on wood / Touch wood: Said to avoid bad luck, often while touching something made of wood.
  • I haven't been sick all year, knock on wood.
• Dead wood: People or things that are no longer useful or productive.
  • The new manager cleared out the dead wood from the department.

Noun

1. a golf club with a long shaft used to hit long shots; originally made with a wooden head
   • metal woods are now standard
2. any wind instrument other than the brass instruments
3. United States painter noted for works based on life in the Midwest (1892-1942)
4. English writer of novels about murders and thefts and forgeries (1814-1887)
5. English conductor (1869-1944)
6. United States film actress (1938-1981)
7. the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
8. the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees