Wood: meaning, definitions and examples

General term for the material derived from trees, used in various contexts such as construction, crafting, and heating.

• She gathered some wood to start a fire
• The table is made of solid oak wood

Commonly used in British English to refer to both unprocessed logs and processed wood. Can also refer to wood used in construction.

• They harvested timber from the nearby forest
• The timber beams supported the old house

Primarily used in American English to refer to processed wood that is ready for construction or other uses.

• We need to buy some lumber for the new deck
• The lumberyard has a wide selection of planks

Refers to a geographical area covered with trees. Often used when talking about natural habitats or scenic areas.

• We went hiking through the woodland
• The wildlife in the woodland is protected by law

Use when referring to a small, dense area of trees, though this is less common and often replaced by 'woods.'

• The path goes through the wood.
• They explored the wood near their house.

Use when referring to a large, dense area covered chiefly with trees and undergrowth.

• The forest is home to many wild animals.
• We went hiking in the forest last weekend.

Use when referring to a small forested area, typically more focused on the space than the trees themselves.

• They got lost in the woods.
• We went camping in the woods for the weekend.

Use when referring to a small group of trees, often planted for their fruit or nuts.

• They walked through the olive grove.
• The orange grove was beautiful in the spring.

Refers to the material that comes from trees. It is used in building, crafting, or as fuel.

• The carpenter selected the finest wood for the table.
• She stacked the wood for the fireplace.

Implies bringing things or people together, often more formally or deliberately than 'collect.'

• The children will gather flowers in the meadow.
• We should gather everyone before the meeting starts.

Used when you bring together items from various places or sources, often casually and over time.

• He likes to collect old coins.
• We will collect donations for the charity event.

Used specifically for gathering crops, plants, or other natural resources, usually at a specific time when they are ripe or ready.

• The farmers harvest their crops in the fall.
• They went to the orchard to harvest apples.