noun
Uncommon
birch
burch
Birch (noun) means a tree with thin, often pale, peeling bark, common across the Northern Hemisphere. Example: “A row of silver birches lined the driveway.”
noun
1
A tree with thin, often pale, peeling bark, common across the Northern Hemisphere.
"A row of silver birches lined the driveway."
2
A bundle of birch twigs formerly used as an instrument of corporal punishment.
"Schoolboys were once punished with the birch."
verb
1
To punish someone by beating them with a birch rod.
"He was birched for stealing apples."
How to use birch
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA pale-barked tree, or (historically) a beating given with a bundle of its twigs.
Common pairings
silver birch
birch tree
birch bark
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Word forms
- Plural
- birches
- Third person singular
- birches
- Past tense
- birched
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A row of silver _____ lined the driveway.
Etymology
From Old English bierce/birce, an ancient Germanic tree name going back to a root meaning "bright" or "white," referring to the pale bark.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for birch
See all rhymes for birch →Frequently asked questions
What does “birch” mean?
The word “birch” means a tree with thin, often pale, peeling bark, common across the Northern Hemisphere. In plain terms, a pale-barked tree, or (historically) a beating given with a bundle of its twigs.
How do you pronounce “birch”?
“Birch” is pronounced burch (/bɝt͡ʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “birch” in a sentence?
Here is “birch” used in a sentence: “A row of silver birches lined the driveway.”
What part of speech is “birch”?
Depending on how it is used, “birch” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “birch” come from?
The word “birch” comes from Old English. From Old English bierce/birce, an ancient Germanic tree name going back to a root meaning "bright" or "white," referring to the pale bark.
Is “birch” a common word?
“Birch” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “birch” have?
“Birch” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tree with thin, often pale, peeling bark, common across the Northern Hemisphere.
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