Definition

Wood that is carried by water and often found floating or washed up on the shore.

Example

The beach was covered in driftwood after the storm.

Conversation

Have you ever seen any interesting driftwood on the beach?

Yeah, I found a really cool piece last summer!

What did you do with the driftwood?

I turned it into a decoration for my living room.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Driftwood is formed from "drift" (from Old English "driftan", meaning to drive or float) and "wood" (from Old English "wudu", meaning tree or wood). The word describes wood that has been driven or carried along by water, typically found floating in rivers or washed ashore.

Memory Tip

Imagine wood that has been 'driven' ('drift') by water, which helps you remember that driftwood refers to wood carried along by water.

Visually Confused Words