: of, relating to, or being a forest characterized by the presence of large old trees, numerous snags and woody debris, and a multilayered canopy and that is usually in a late stage of ecological succession
old growth noun

Examples of old-growth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is Michigan’s largest park at 60,000 acres, half of which is old-growth hardwood hemlock, the largest old-growth forest in the Midwest. John Carlisle, Detroit Free Press, 24 Oct. 2024 According to a recent federal report, the biggest threat that American old-growth trees face is destruction by wildfires, which are exacerbated by climate change. Clint Smith, The Atlantic, 17 June 2024 These are the old-growth forests of the temperate zone, in the U.S. mostly protected in parks or on federal lands west of the Cascades. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2024 Plan for at least five days, and five portages through old-growth forests where black bears still roam. Jayme Moye, Outside Online, 4 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for old-growth 

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of old-growth was in 1868

Dictionary Entries Near old-growth

Cite this Entry

“Old-growth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/old-growth. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

old-growth

adjective
ˈōl(d)-ˈgrōth
: of, relating to, or being a forest characterized by the presence of large old trees, dead standing trees, and fallen rotting trees and that is usually in a late stage of development
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