birch

Universal Words noun 1 [C,U] (also birch tree [C]) a tree with smooth bark and thin branches, that grows in northern countries seealsoSILVERBIRCH 2 (also birchwood ) [U] the hard pale wood of the birch tree 3 (the birch) [sing.] the practice of hitting sb with a bunch of birch sticks, as a punishment