/ bɜːtʃ; NAmE bɜːrtʃ/ noun
1.
[ C , U ] (also ˈbirch tree [ C ]) a tree with smooth bark and thin branches, that grows in northern countries
—see also silver birch
2.
(also birch·wood / ˈbɜːtʃwʊd; NAmE ˈbɜːrtʃ-/) [ 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
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English bierce , birce , of Germanic origin; related to German Birke .