I. ˈfȯr-əst, ˈfär- noun
Usage: often attributive
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 -əs-t ə l or fo·res·tial fə-ˈres-tē-əl, fȯ-, -ˈres(h)-chəl adjective
• for·est·ed ˈfȯr-ə-stəd, ˈfär- adjective
II. transitive verb
Date: circa 1828
: to cover with trees or forest
land densely forest ed with firs
• for·es·ta·tion ˌfȯr-ə-ˈstā-shən, ˌfär- noun