hardwood

== English == === Alternative forms === hard wood === Etymology === From hard +‎ wood. The term refers to the seed coat of the tree's seeds; it does not refer to the degree of hardness of the tree's wood, but it seems to do so and is usually assumed to do so by speakers not well informed about trees and timber. === Pronunciation === (General American) IPA(key): /ˈhɑɹdˌwʊd/ === Noun === hardwood (countable and uncountable, plural hardwoods) (countable, mostly in botany and forestry) The wood from any dicotyledonous tree, without regard to its hardness. Coordinate term: softwood (countable) (in more general use) As the preceding, but limited to those that are commercial timbers, and are at least average in hardness. Coordinate term: softwood (countable, forestry) The tree or tree species that yields the preceding. Coordinate term: softwood (uncountable) A joint term for the commercial timbers, without distinguishing which. (sports, slang) The sport of basketball, in particular, an indoor basketball court; so named because the floor of an indoor basketball court is normally made of hardwood. ==== Translations ==== === Adjective === hardwood (not comparable) (of a floor) Made of interlocking hardwood boards.