Definition

Wood that is no longer alive, often found on trees, or branches that have fallen off. It can also refer to unnecessary or burdensome things in various contexts.

Example

The forest was filled with deadwood, making it difficult to walk through.

Conversation

I noticed there’s a lot of deadwood on that tree in the backyard.

Yeah, it looks like it needs some trimming.

We should probably remove the deadwood before it falls and causes damage.

Good idea! I can help you with that this weekend.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Deadwood is formed from "dead" (from Old English "dead", meaning no longer alive) and "wood" (from Old English "wudu", meaning tree or timber). The term "deadwood" refers to wood that is no longer alive, often used to describe trees that are no longer growing or producing leaves.

Memory Tip

Think of 'dead' meaning no longer alive and 'wood' referring to trees. This helps you remember that 'deadwood' is wood from trees that are no longer alive.

Visually Confused Words