beech

A tree of the genus Fagus having a smooth, light grey trunk, oval, pointed leaves, and many branches.

Noun

  1. A tree of the genus Fagus having a smooth, light grey trunk, oval, pointed leaves, and many branches.
    • A beech wood with silver firs in it rolled down the face of the hill, and the maze of leafless twigs and dusky spires cut sharp against the soft blueness of the evening sky. - 1907 January, Harold Bindloss, chapter 1,...
  2. The wood of the beech tree.

Origin

From Middle English beche, from Old English bēċe, from Proto-West Germanic *bōkijā (“beech”). Doublet of buky. Related to English book.

Forms

beeches

Synonyms

beech tree beechwood

Derived

American beech Antarctic beech beech bark disease beech-de-mer beechdrops beechen Beech Forest Beech Grove beechlike beech marten beech mast beechmast beech nut beechnut beech oil beech snap Beechtree beechy blue beech Bough Beech Carshalton Beeches common beech copper beech Dombey's beech