wood
gb/wˈʊd/ us/wˈʊd/
A2
English
~ 1500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
hard material from trees
The hard part of a tree that is used to make things or as fuel.
Usage pattern:
[something] made of wood
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'wood' with 'woods'. 'Wood' means the material; 'the woods' means a forested area.
Synonyms
timber (Often used for processed or cut wood, especially in construction.)
|
lumber (Mainly used in North American English for sawn wood for building.)
Antonyms
metal (A common contrasting material to wood in construction and objects.)
Collocations
cut wood
|burn wood
|solid wood
|wood floor
|wood furniture
Themes
nature
|materials
|construction
|core_vocabulary
|housing
|daily_life
Examples
- The table is made of solid oak wood.
- They collected wood for the campfire.
- This sculpture was carved from a single block of wood.
- Wood expands when it gets wet.
- The smell of burning wood filled the air.
Learner examples
- The chair is made of wood.
- We use wood to make a fire.
- He cuts wood with an axe.
- The box is from wood.
- Wood is from trees.
Noun
A2
entity
2
small forested area
A small group of trees growing close together.
Usage pattern:
walk in the woods
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes drop the article 'the' when referring to 'the woods' meaning forested area.
Synonyms
grove (Usually refers to a small group of trees, often cultivated or naturally occurring.)
|
copse (A very small group of trees, often used in British English.)
Antonyms
clearing (An open area without trees inside a wooded area.)
Collocations
dense wood
|walk in the woods
|pine woods
Themes
nature
|geography
|space
Examples
- We got lost in the woods during our hike.
- The cabin is hidden in a quiet wood.
- Birdsong filled the morning air in the woods.
- They went for a picnic in the woods.
- The path winds through the pine woods.
Learner examples
- I like to walk in the woods.
- There are many birds in the woods.
- We camped in the woods.
- The woods are near my house.
- He ran into the woods.
Noun
technical
B1
entity
3
golf club with large head
A golf club used to hit the ball far, often at the start of a hole.
Usage pattern:
hit [something] with a wood
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'wood' here refers to the material rather than the type of golf club.
Synonyms
driver (The 1-wood, used for the longest shots from the tee.)
Collocations
driver wood
|fairway wood
|three-wood
Themes
sports
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- He teed off with a three-wood.
- Modern woods are usually made from metal alloys.
- She prefers to use a wood instead of an iron for this shot.
- The driver is the most powerful wood in a golfer's bag.
Learner examples
- He hits the ball with a wood.
- She uses a wood for long shots.
- This is my favorite wood in golf.
Grammar
Dictionary form
wood
IPA
GB/wˈʊd/
US/wˈʊd/
Syllables & stress
wood (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (wood)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: wood
- Plural: wood, woods
Word family
Expressions
can't see the wood for the trees
1/kˈænt sˈi ðə wˈʊd fɚ ðə tɹˈiz/
idiom
miss main point by over-focusing on details
To be so focused on small details that you do not understand the bigger situation or problem.
Examples
- He’s so focused on minor errors that he can’t see the wood for the trees.
- You’re worrying too much about one test—you can’t see the wood for the trees.
out of the woods
1/ˈaʊt əv ðə wˈʊdz/
idiom
no longer in danger or trouble
No longer in danger or having problems.
Examples
- The patient is doing better, but she’s not out of the woods yet.
- The economy is improving, but we’re not out of the woods.
knock on wood
1/nˈɑk ˈɔn wˈʊd/
idiom
informal
Touch wood for good luck
Say this and touch wood so that something good you said will not be followed by bad luck.
Examples
- The weather has been great all week, knock on wood.
- The team's been winning all season, knock on wood.
- I’ve never broken a bone, knock on wood.
- I haven't been sick all year—knock on wood.