noun
hornbeam
HORN-beem
Hornbeam (noun) means a tree of the genus Carpinus, with smooth grey bark and very hard white wood. Example: “A row of old hornbeams lined the edge of the wood.”
noun
1
A tree of the genus Carpinus, with smooth grey bark and very hard white wood.
"A row of old hornbeams lined the edge of the wood."
"The hornbeam had lost its leaves by the end of November."
"We planted a hornbeam hedge along the back of the garden."
2
The very hard, pale wood of a hornbeam tree.
"Hornbeam is a dense wood that is difficult to cut by hand."
"He made the handle of the mallet from hornbeam."
"The workshop kept a stack of seasoned hornbeam in the corner."
How to use hornbeam
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tree with smooth grey bark and very hard wood, or the wood itself.
When to use it
It is an ordinary word, used in gardening, forestry and woodworking.
Memory tip
The stress falls on the first syllable, and the second half is said like the word beam.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
common hornbeam
hornbeam hedge
hornbeam wood
American hornbeam
European hornbeam
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A row of old _____ lined the edge of the wood.
Etymology
The word comes from Late Middle English, formed from horn and bem, a word for a tree. It refers to a tree whose wood is as hard as horn.
Rhymes for hornbeam
See all rhymes for hornbeam →Frequently asked questions
What is a hornbeam?
A hornbeam is a tree of the genus Carpinus. It has smooth grey bark, a ridged trunk and very hard white wood.
Why is it called a hornbeam?
The name joins horn and an old word for tree. It refers to the wood being as hard as horn.
Where do hornbeams grow?
Hornbeams are found in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The common or European hornbeam is Carpinus betulus, and the American hornbeam is Carpinus caroliniana.
What is the meaning of hornbeam?
"hornbeam" (noun) means a tree of the genus Carpinus, with smooth grey bark and very hard white wood.
