Lexic.us

Definition of Birch

1. Noun. Hard close-grained wood of any of various birch trees; used especially in furniture and interior finishes and plywood.

2. Verb. Whip with a birch twig. "They want to birch the prisoners "

3. Adjective. Consisting of or made of wood of the birch tree.

4. Noun. Any betulaceous tree or shrub of the genus Betula having a thin peeling bark.

5. Noun. A switch consisting of a twig or a bundle of twigs from a birch tree; used to hit people as punishment. ; "My father never spared the birch"

Definition of Birch

1. n. A tree of several species, constituting the genus Betula; as, the white or common birch (B. alba) (also called silver birch and lady birch); the dwarf birch (B. glandulosa); the paper or canoe birch (B. papyracea); the yellow birch (B. lutea); the black or cherry birch (B. lenta).

2. a. Of or pertaining to the birch; birchen.

3. v. t. To whip with a birch rod or twig; to flog.

Definition of Birch

1. Noun. any of various trees of the genus ''Betula'', native to countries in the northern hemisphere. ¹

2. Noun. a hard wood taken from the birch tree, typically used to make furniture. ¹

3. Noun. a stick, rod or bundle of twigs made from birch wood, used for punishment. ¹

4. Verb. to punish with a stick, bundle of twigs, or rod made of birch wood. ¹

5. Verb. to punish as though one were using a stick, bundle of twigs, or rod made of birch wood. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Birch

1. to whip [v -ED, -ING, -ES] - See also: whip

Medical Definition of Birch

1. 1. A tree of several species, constituting the genus Betula; as, the white or common birch (B. Alba) (also called silver birch and lady birch); the dwarf birch (B. Glandulosa); the paper or canoe birch (B. Papyracea); the yellow birch (B. Lutea); the black or cherry birch (B. Lenta). 2. The wood or timber of the birch. 3. A birch twig or birch twigs, used for flogging. The twigs of the common European birch (B. Alba), being tough and slender, were formerly much used for rods in schools. They were also made into brooms. "The threatening twigs of birch." (Shak) 4. A birch-bark canoe. Birch of Jamaica, a species (Bursera gummifera) of turpentine tree. Birch partridge. See Ruffed grouse. Birch wine, wine made of the spring sap of the birch. Oil of birch. An oil obtained from the bark of the common European birch (Betula alba), and used in the preparation of genuine (and sometimes of the imitation) Russia leather, to which it gives its peculiar odour. An oil prepared from the black birch (B. Lenta), said to be identical with the oil of wintergreen, for which it is largely sold. Origin: OE. Birche, birk. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Birch

biracialisms biradial biradially biradiate biradiated biradical biradicaloid biradicals biramose biramous

biraphid biraryl birational birationality birationally birch (current term) birch bark birch beer birch bolete birch bracket

birch family birch leaf miner birch oil birch rod birch sap birch tar birch tar oil birch tree birchbark birchbark canoe

Literary usage of Birch

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Cavendish by Christa Jungnickel, Russell McCormmach (1996)
"birch was an historian who met the scientific and medical men more than halfway. ... birch, at age twenty-six, was invited to be one of the three editors of ..."

2. Report (1905)
"The Nectria upon the birch has larger perithecia, longer asci, thicker spores, ... Superficially the Nectria on the birch resembles 2V. coccinea (Pers. ..."

3. Field Book of American Trees and Shrubs: A Concise Description of the by Ferdinand Schuyler Mathews (1915)
"birch, Cherry, 113. birch, Dwarf, 124. birch FAMILY. 109. birch, Gray, 117. birch, Low, 122. birch, Oldfield, 117. birch, Paper, 120, 121. ..."

4. American Druggist (1891)
"The Manufacture of Oil of birch. A. PROFITABLE industry, and one of which but ... Only, since oil of birch possesses the same wintergreen flavor and is more ..."

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