birch
noun /bɜːtʃ/
/bɜːrtʃ/
- [countable, uncountable] (also birch tree [countable])a tree with smooth bark and thin branches, that grows in northern countries see also silver birchTopics Plants and treesc2
- (also birchwood[uncountable] the hard pale wood of the birch tree/ˈbɜːtʃwʊd//ˈbɜːrtʃwʊd/)
- the birch[singular] the practice of hitting somebody with a bunch of birch sticks, as a punishment
Word OriginOld English bierce, birce, of Germanic origin; related to German Birke.