beech

noun

ˈbēch 

plural beeches or beech

: any of a genus (Fagus of the family Fagaceae, the beech family) of hardwood trees with smooth gray bark and small edible nuts

also : its wood

beechen

ˈbē-chən 

adjective

Examples of beech in a Sentence

a box made of beech

Recent Examples on the Web

The deeply pretty Georgian manor house, all honeyed Bath stone, sits at the end of an avenue of sky-high beech and lime trees, surrounded by exquisite gardens like a Jane Austen film set. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

At the same time, as the Burke Museum notes, the low-lying forests of nut and beech trees the birds depended on were cleared for farmland as settlement spread west. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2026

Come fall, particularly October, the woodlands draw fall-color enthusiasts with vivid maples, birches, and beeches. — Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 10 Sep. 2026

There is just one negative Salge sees in his crystal ball, and that is the ongoing beech leaf disease that's been rapidly spreading through our forests. — Eric Fisher, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English beche, from Old English bēce; akin to Old English bōc beech, Old High German buohha, Latin fagus, Greek phēgos oak

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing beech

• copper beech

Rhymes for beech

• beach
• bleach
• breach
• breech
• each
• keech
• leach
• leech
• meech
• peach
• preach
• reach

Kids Definition

beech

noun

ˈbēch 

plural beeches or beech

: any of a genus of trees with smooth gray bark and small edible nuts

also : its wood

beechen

ˈbē-chən 

adjective