Wood is the hard material that makes up the trunk and branches of trees. When you knock on a wooden door or desk, you're touching wood that came from a tree that was cut down, dried, and shaped into something useful.

Wood has been one of humanity's most important materials for thousands of years. People build houses from wood, craft furniture from it, burn it for warmth, and use it to make everything from pencils to musical instruments. Different types of trees produce different kinds of wood: oak is strong and heavy, pine is softer and easier to cut, and balsa is so light it floats easily.

When you look at a piece of wood closely, you can often see rings that show how old the tree was. Each ring represents one year of growth. Wood also has a grain, the pattern of lines running through it, which gives each piece its unique look and affects how easily you can cut or shape it.

The word can also describe a small forest, especially in British English: “They went for a walk in the woods near their house.” When something is described as wooden, it might mean stiff or awkward, like a wooden performance by an actor who seems uncomfortable on stage.