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adj Uncommon

woody

WUU-dee

Woody (adj) means Made of, resembling, or having the texture of wood. Example: “The wine had a warm, woody flavor from aging in oak barrels.”

adj
1
Made of, resembling, or having the texture of wood.
"The wine had a warm, woody flavor from aging in oak barrels."
"Old asparagus stalks can turn tough and woody."
2
Covered with trees; wooded.
"The trail cut through a woody hillside."

How to use woody

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishHaving the qualities of wood — its texture, smell, or taste — or simply full of trees.

Common pairings
a woody aroma woody stems woody terrain

Word forms

woodier comparative, woodiest superlative

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Test yourself on “woody” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The wine had a warm, _____ flavor from aging in oak barrels.

Etymology

From "wood" plus the adjective ending "-y."

timbered lignified forested wood-like

Related words

Rhymes for woody

See all rhymes for woody →

Frequently asked questions

What does “woody” mean?

The word “woody” means made of, resembling, or having the texture of wood. In plain terms, having the qualities of wood — its texture, smell, or taste — or simply full of trees.

How do you pronounce “woody”?

“Woody” is pronounced WUU-dee (/ˈwʊdi/ in IPA).

How do you use “woody” in a sentence?

Here is “woody” used in a sentence: “The wine had a warm, woody flavor from aging in oak barrels.”

What part of speech is “woody”?

“Woody” is an adjective.

Is “woody” a common word?

“Woody” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “woody” have?

“Woody” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: made of, resembling, or having the texture of wood.

What is the difference between woody and wooded?

Woody most often describes something made of, resembling, or having the texture of wood, such as a 'woody stem' or a 'woody flavor,' while wooded specifically describes land covered with trees, such as a 'wooded hillside.' Woody can also mean covered with trees, overlapping with wooded, but its more common use relates to texture or material.

Is woody used to describe taste or smell?

Yes, woody is commonly used to describe flavors or scents that resemble wood, such as in descriptions of wine, whiskey, or perfume, where it conveys an earthy, warm quality.

Can woody describe plants that are not trees?

Yes, woody is used in botany to describe any plant with hard, wood-like stems, such as shrubs, distinguishing them from herbaceous plants with soft, green stems.

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