n.
Pronunciation: ' fo ̇ r- ə st, ' fär-
Function: noun
Usage: often attrib
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin forestis ( silva ) unenclosed (woodland), from Latin foris outside ― more at FORUM
Date: 13th century
1 : a dense growth of trees and underbrush covering a large tract
2 : a tract of wooded land in England formerly owned by the sovereign and used for game
3 : something resembling a forest especially in profusion or lushness <a forest of microphones> <a kelp forest >
– for · est · al \ - ə s-t ə l \ or fo · res · tial \ f ə - ' res-t ē - ə l, fo ̇ -, - ' res(h)-ch ə l \ adjective
– for · est · ed \ ' fo ̇ r- ə -st ə d, ' fär- \ adjective