late wood

noun

1. summerwood.

late wood

1. The part of the wood in a growth ring of a tree that is produced later in the growing season. The cells of late wood are smaller and have thicker cell walls than those produced earlier in the season. Within a growth ring, the change of early wood to late wood is gradual, but each layer of early wood from the next growing season makes an abrupt contrast with the late wood before it, thus leading to the perception of rings.
2. Compare early wood

Word History and Origins

Origin of late wood¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Of other wood-characters, the presence or absence of tangential pits in the tracheids of the late wood establishes a distinction between Soft and Hard Pines.

From Project Gutenberg

Usually odorless, not splintery, not resinous, with little contrast between early and late wood.

From Project Gutenberg

Color white or very light brown with a pinkish hue to the late wood.

From Project Gutenberg

Moderate contrast between early and late wood.

From Project Gutenberg

Wood uniform-textured; late wood usually very thin, inconspicuous.

From Project Gutenberg