forest

The word “forest” means a large area densely covered with trees. In plain terms, a big stretch of land covered mostly in trees, bigger than a wood.

“Forest” is pronounced FO-rihst (/ˈfɔɹəst/ in IPA).

Here is “forest” used in a sentence: “They hiked for hours through the forest without seeing another soul.”

Words with a similar meaning to “forest” include woods and woodland.

Depending on how it is used, “forest” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “forest” comes from Medieval Latin. From Old French forest, from Medieval Latin forestis, likely linked to Latin foris ("outside") — originally land outside enclosed royal parks.

“Forest” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Forest” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large area densely covered with trees.

The main difference is size and density. A forest is large and densely covered with trees — big enough to have its own ecosystem and easy to get lost in. Woods, or a wood, are smaller and more open, often close to homes or fields. Forests are simply the bigger of the two.

A jungle is a type of forest — specifically a hot, humid tropical one tangled with dense undergrowth that is hard to walk through. 'Forest' is the general term and includes cooler kinds, like pine or oak forests. So every jungle is a forest, but not every forest is a jungle.

The main types are tropical rainforests, which are hot and wet; temperate forests, with four seasons; and boreal or taiga forests, which are cold and coniferous. Forests are also described as deciduous, coniferous, or mixed, depending on whether their trees shed leaves or stay green year-round.

Forests produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, helping to regulate the climate. They provide homes for countless plants and animals, protect soil from erosion, store and clean water, and supply timber, food, and medicines. In short, they are vital to the health of the whole planet and to human life.