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."
"The candle gave off a warm, woody scent like freshly cut timber."
2
Covered with trees; wooded.
"The trail cut through a woody hillside."
"We camped on a woody slope overlooking the quiet valley."
"The woody countryside around the village is full of birds."
How to use woody
Learner’s notesIn 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
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like woody.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- woodier
- Superlative
- woodiest
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."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
nonwoody
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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include woody:
