for ‧ est S2 W2 /ˈfɒrəst, ˈfɒrɪst $ ˈfɔː-, ˈfɑː-/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ forest , ↑ deforestation , ↑ forestry , ↑ forester ; verb : ↑ deforest ; adjective : ↑ forested ]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Latin foris 'outside' (because it was outside the main fenced area of woods) ]
a large area of land that is covered with trees ⇨ wood
thick/dense forest
Much of Scandinavia is covered in dense forest.
a tropical forest
the danger of forest fires
⇨ ↑ rain forest , ⇨ not see the forest for the trees at ↑ see 1 (41)
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COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning )
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + forest
▪ a thick/dense forest (=with trees that are growing close together)
The country we passed through was once thick forest.
▪ a pine/beech/birch etc forest
A narrow path led through the pine forest.
▪ a tropical forest (=in tropical areas of the world)
South East Asia’s topical rain forests
▪ a deciduous forest (=with trees that lose their leaves in winter)
a deciduous forest of red oak trees
▪ a coniferous forest (=with pine or fir trees)
We entered a dark coniferous forest.
▪ virgin forest (=forest that has not been used or changed by people)
Here virgin forest remains that is at least a thousand years old.
▪ a primeval forest (=forest which has existed since ancient times)
One of Europe’s last areas of primeval forest is threatened with destruction.
■ verbs
▪ plant a forest
Large areas of forest have been planted.
▪ clear a forest (=cut down and remove the trees)
Huge areas of forest have been cleared since 1960.
▪ cut down a forest
The forest was cut down to make way for housing.
▪ be covered in forest
The mountain slopes were covered in forest.
■ forest + NOUN
▪ a forest fire
Forest fires have broken out across the region.
▪ the forest floor (=the ground in a forest)
The forest floor was carpeted with leaves.
▪ the forest canopy (=the area at the top of the trees)
He could see the sky through the gaps in the forest canopy.
▪ forest management (=controlling the way a forest grows and is used)
The main aim of forest management is timber production.
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THESAURUS
▪ forest a very large area of land with a lot of trees growing closely together:
In 1500, most of the country was forest.
|
the Black Forest in Germany
▪ woods ( also wood British English ) an area of land covered with a lot of trees, that is smaller than a forest:
Behind the house were the woods that we used to play in.
|
Follow the path through a small wood.
▪ woodland an area of land that is covered with trees – used especially for describing the type of land in an area:
The site covers 74 acres of beautiful ancient woodland.
▪ rainforest a thick forest with tall trees, in tropical parts of the world that have a lot of rain:
Tropical rainforests are home to over half of the planet’s plant and animal species.
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the Indonesian rainforest
▪ jungle an area of tropical forest where trees and large plants grow very closely together:
the jungles of Borneo
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The palace was hidden for centuries in Guatemala’s dense jungle.
▪ grove a small group of trees, or an area of land planted with a particular type of fruit tree:
The temple was built in the centre of a small grove of trees.
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the olive groves of southern Spain
▪ copse /kɒps $ kɑːps/ a small area of trees or bushes growing closely together:
At the top of the field was a copse full of rabbits.
▪ plantation a large area of trees planted for their wood, fruit etc:
a rubber plantation
▪ thicket /ˈθɪkət, ˈθɪkɪt/ a small group of bushes, plants, or small trees growing closely together:
Tall bamboo thickets fringed the narrow river.