Definition of "hardwood" in English

noun

1. (countable, mostly in botany and forestry) The wood from any dicotyledonous tree, without regard to its hardness.

   • Balsa is a hardwood, but a soft hardwood.

2. (countable) (in more general use) As the preceding, but limited to those that are commercial timbers, and are at least average in hardness.

   • Ash, hickory and oak are some of the most prominent domestic hardwoods.

3. (countable, forestry) The tree or tree species that yields the preceding.

   • This hardwood has been planted extensively throughout the hills here.

4. (uncountable) A joint term for the commercial timbers, without distinguishing which.

   • You should have used hardwood for this window sill instead of this junk.

5. (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.

adjective

1. (of a floor) Made of interlocking hardwood boards.