Definition

A type of tree or shrub that produces a dense, hard wood, often used for making furniture and decorative items.

Example

The artisan crafted a beautiful boxwood carving for the exhibition.

Conversation

Have you ever seen a boxwood tree?

Yeah, I think they look really nice in gardens.

I love how dense the leaves are on a boxwood.

Absolutely! They make great natural hedges.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Boxwood is formed from "box" (from Old English *box*, meaning a type of shrub or tree) and "wood" (from Old English *wudu*, meaning forest or tree). The word refers to the wood derived from the box tree, which is known for its dense and fine-grained timber.

Memory Tip

Think of the 'box' tree, which is a specific type of shrub, combined with 'wood' to remember that boxwood refers to the wood from this particular tree.

Visually Confused Words