Softwood Meaning
/sˈɔˌftwʊd/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe wood from any gymnosperm, without regard to its softness.
nounWood of this kind, but limited to those that are commercial timbers.
Sentence Examples
In woodworking, we classify wood as hardwood, softwood or exotic wood.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
Pine and fir trees provide ____, which is light and easy to cut.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Pine is a common type of ____ that is often used for making furniture and building materials.
Word Origin & History
From soft + wood. The term refers to the seed coat, or absence thereof, of the tree's seeds; it does not refer to the degree of softness or hardness of the tree's wood, but it seems to do so and is usually assumed to do so by speakers not well informed about trees and timber.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The bodies are sheeted in softwood, a double layer of ⅝-in. boards on the quarters, with a single thickness lining inside the steel ends."
— 1952 January, “British Railways Standard Wagons”, in Railway Magazine, page 61:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Pine and fir trees provide ____, which is light and easy to cut.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Pine is a common type of ____ that is often used for making furniture and building materials.