forest

[ fawr-ist, for- ]

noun

1. a large tract of land covered with trees and underbrush; woodland.
2. the trees on such a tract:

   to cut down a forest.

3. a tract of wooded grounds in England formerly belonging to the sovereign and set apart for game.
4. a thick cluster of vertical objects:

   a forest of church spires.

verb (used with object)

1. to supply or cover with trees; convert into a forest.

forest

/ fəˈrɛstɪəl; ˈfɒrɪst /

noun

1. a large wooded area having a thick growth of trees and plants
2. the trees of such an area
3. an area planted with exotic pines or similar trees Compare bush 1
4. something resembling a large wooded area, esp in density

   a forest of telegraph poles

5. law (formerly) an area of woodland, esp one owned by the sovereign and set apart as a hunting ground with its own laws and officers Compare park
6. modifier of, involving, or living in a forest or forests

   a forest glade

verb

1. tr to create a forest (in); plant with trees

forest

/ fôr′ĭst /

1. A growth of trees covering a large area. Forests exist in all regions of the Earth except for regions of extreme cold or dryness.

Derived Forms

• ˈforested, adjective
• ˈforestless, adjective
• ˈforestal, adjective
• ˈforest-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• forest·al fo·res·tial [f, uh, -, res, -ch, uh, l], adjective
• forest·ed adjective
• forest·less adjective
• forest·like adjective
• non·forest noun
• non·forest·ed adjective
• un·forest·ed adjective
• well-forest·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of forest¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin forestis (silva) “an unenclosed wood” (as opposed to a park), derivative of Latin forīs “outside.” foreign

Word History and Origins

Origin of forest¹

C13: from Old French, from Medieval Latin forestis unfenced woodland, from Latin foris outside

Idioms and Phrases

see can't see the forest for the trees .

Synonym Study

Forest, grove, wood refer to an area covered with trees. A forest is an extensive area, preserving some or all of its primitive wildness and usually having game or wild animals in it: Sherwood Forest; the Black Forest. A grove is a group or cluster of trees, usually not very large in area and cleared of underbrush. It is usually tended or cultivated: a shady grove; a grove of pines; an orange grove; a walnut grove. Woods (or a wood ) resembles a forest but is a smaller tract of land, less wild in character, and generally closer to civilization: lost in the woods; a wood covering several acres.

Related Words

• jungle
• park
• thicket
• timber
• wood
• woodland