birch: Meaning and Definition of

birch

Pronunciation: (bûrch), [key]
— n.
  1. any tree or shrub of the genus Betula, comprising species with a smooth, laminated outer bark and close-grained wood. Cf. birch family.
  2. the wood itself.
  3. a birch rod, or a bundle of birch twigs, used esp. for whipping.
—adj.
  1. birchen.
—v.t.
  1. to beat or punish with or as if with a birch: The young ruffians were birched soundly by their teacher.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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