# wood

/ˈwʊd/ (US) · /wˈʊd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. material from trees

noun · CEFR A2

the hard substance that forms the trunk and branches of a tree.

For teachers: the hard, fibrous structural tissue that makes up the main substance of the trunk or branches of a tree or shrub. Uncountable when referring to the material generally.

- The dining table is made of solid wood and is very heavy.
- The artisan selected a high-density wood for the cabinet, ensuring the finished piece would resist warping in humid climates.

### 2. a small forest

noun · CEFR A2

an area of land covered with a thick growth of trees.

For teachers: an area of land, smaller than a forest, that is covered with a thick growth of trees. Often used in the plural form 'the woods' to refer to a single forested area.

- We spent the afternoon walking through the woods behind our house.
- The path meandered through a dense wood of ancient oaks before opening onto a wide, sunlit meadow.

### 4. golf club

noun · CEFR B2

a type of golf club used for hitting the ball long distances.

For teachers: a type of golf club with a large head, traditionally made of wood but now usually made of metal. Used for long-distance shots.

- He used a three-wood to hit the ball onto the green.
- Despite the technological shift to titanium, golfers still refer to these long-distance clubs as woods due to their historical construction.

### 5. musical instruments

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a group of musical instruments like the flute or clarinet.

For teachers: a collective term for woodwind instruments. Usually used in the plural to refer to the section of an orchestra.

- The composer wrote a beautiful melody specifically for the wood section.
- The conductor requested a softer attack from the woods to avoid overpowering the delicate solo from the first violin.

### 6. sexual arousal

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Vulgar · Informal

a slang word for when a man's penis becomes hard.

For teachers: a slang term for a penile erection. Highly informal and potentially offensive in professional or mixed company.

- The teenage boys were making crude jokes about having wood.
- The script was criticized for its reliance on juvenile humor, including several unnecessary references to wood.

## Examples

- The table is made of solid wood.
- The carpenter selected a high-quality piece of oak wood to build the new kitchen cabinets.
- Sustainable forestry practices ensure that the wood harvested for industrial use is replaced by new growth to maintain the ecosystem's balance.

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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.