# greenwood

/ˈɡɹinˌwʊd/ (US) · /ɡɹˈiːnwʊd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/greenwood
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a leafy forest

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a forest in the summer when all the trees are covered in green leaves.

For teachers: a forest in full leaf, typically during the summer months. Often used in a romantic or historical context.

- The outlaws lived deep in the greenwood where the thick leaves hid them.
- The ballad evokes the idyllic life of the legendary archers who sought refuge within the depths of the medieval greenwood.

Usage: Often used with the definite article 'the'.

### 2. unseasoned timber

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

wood that has just been cut and is still wet inside, not yet dry enough for building or burning.

For teachers: wood that is freshly felled and has not yet been seasoned or dried. It retains a high moisture content.

- You should not burn greenwood in the fireplace because it creates too much smoke.
- Traditional chairmakers often prefer working with greenwood because its high moisture content makes it more pliable for steam-bending.

Usage: Usually functions as an uncountable noun in this context.

## Examples

- The outlaws lived deep within the greenwood.
- The poet described the greenwood as a place of refuge from the noise of the growing city.
- In medieval literature, the greenwood serves as a liminal space where the rigid laws of the court no longer apply and nature's own order takes precedence.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.