1. hard close-grained wood of any of various birch trees; used especially in furniture and interior finishes and plywood;
2. any betulaceous tree or shrub of the genus Betula having a thin peeling bark; [syn: birch, birch tree]
3. a switch consisting of a twig or a bundle of twigs from a birch tree; used to hit people as punishment; - Example: "my father never spared the birch" [syn: birch, birch rod]
VERB (1)
1. whip with a birch twig;
ADJECTIVE (1)
1. consisting of or made of wood of the birch tree; [syn: birch, birchen, birken]