# woody

/ˈwʊdi/ (US) · /wˈʊdi/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. resembling wood

adjective · CEFR B2

made of wood or having a texture and appearance like wood.

For teachers: consisting of wood or having the characteristic texture, density, or appearance of wood.

- The plant has a thick, woody stem that helps it survive the winter.
- As the shrub matures, its green shoots develop a woody texture, providing the structural rigidity necessary to support heavy summer blooms.

### 2. covered in trees

adjective · CEFR B2

an area that has many trees growing on it.

For teachers: characterised by an abundance of trees; wooded.

- We went for a long walk through the woody hills behind the house.
- The estate is situated in a secluded woody valley, offering total privacy from the main road and the neighbouring farms.

### 3. botanical structure

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describing plants that have hard stems rather than soft, green ones.

For teachers: referring to plants that produce wood as their structural tissue; non-herbaceous.

- Rose bushes are woody perennials that can live for many years.
- The classification of woody species depends on the presence of secondary xylem, which allows the plant to grow taller than its herbaceous counterparts.

### 4. vulgar slang for an erection

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Vulgar

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

For teachers: a vulgar slang term for an erect penis.

- The teenage boys were making jokes about having a woody.
- The film's crude humour relied heavily on sight gags involving characters trying to hide a woody in public.

Usage: Usually used with the verb 'to have' or 'to get'.

Teaching tip: This is highly informal and potentially offensive; learners should avoid using it in any professional or polite social setting.

## Examples

- The old rosemary bush has thick, woody stems.
- If you harvest the asparagus too late in the season, the bottom of the stalks becomes woody and difficult to eat.
- The landscape was dominated by woody shrubs that had adapted to the arid climate by developing deep root systems and dense, protective bark.

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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.