birch

1 of 2

noun

ˈbərch 

1

: any of a genus (Betula of the family Betulaceae, the birch family) of monoecious deciduous trees or shrubs having simple petioled leaves and typically a layered membranous outer bark that peels readily

2

: the hard pale close-grained wood of a birch

3

: a birch rod or bundle of twigs for flogging

birch adjective

or birchen

ˈbər-chən 

birch

2 of 2

verb

birched; birching; birches

transitive verb

: to beat with or as if with a birch : whip

Synonyms

Verb

• cowhide
• flagellate
• flail
• flog
• hide
• horsewhip
• lash
• leather
• rawhide
• scourge
• slash
• switch
• tan
• thrash
• whale
• whip

Examples of birch in a Sentence

Noun

a cabinet made of birch

In those days, schoolchildren got the birch when they misbehaved.

Verb

students at the private school were once routinely birched for violating the rules

always a stern disciplinarian, our father birched anyone who talked back

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

People with oral allergy syndrome (OAS) may develop a strawberry tongue after eating raw fruits or vegetables pollinated by grasses, birch trees, or ragweed. —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 24 Oct. 2024

Driving here takes you past a flip book of silver birch and lakes, pines and lakes. —Rick Jordan, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Oct. 2024

Verb

Find yellow aspen and birch along the shoreline and red maples inland. —Kerri Westenberg, Star Tribune, 11 Sep. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English beorc; akin to Old High German birka birch, Old English beorht bright, and probably to Latin fraxinus ash tree — more at bright

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1808, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing birch

• black birch
• gray birch
• paper birch
• sweet birch
• the birch
• white birch
• yellow birch

Kids Definition

birch

1 of 2 noun

ˈbərch 

1

: any of a genus of trees or shrubs with typically an outer bark that peels easily in thin layers and leaves that are shed each fall

also : its hard pale close-grained wood

2

: a birch rod or bundle of twigs used as a whip

birch adjective

or birchen

ˈbər-chən 

birch

2 of 2 verb

: to whip with or as if with a birch