birch Definition

any of a genus (Betula of the family Betulaceae, the birch family) of monoecious deciduous trees or shrubs having simple petioled leaves and typically a layered membranous outer bark that peels readily

the hard pale close-grained wood of a birch

a birch rod or bundle of twigs for flogging

to beat with or as if with a birch : whip

sweet birch

a small birch (Betula populifolia) of northeastern North America that has many lateral branches, grayish-white bark, triangular leaves, and soft weak wood and that occurs especially in old fields reverting to woodland

yellow birch

a North American birch (Betula papyrifera) with peeling white bark and toothed ovate leaves

a common aromatic birch (Betula lenta) of eastern North America that has shiny brown bark when young, hard dark-colored wood, and a volatile oil in its bark resembling wintergreen —called also black birch

paper birch; also : gray birch

either of two Eurasian birches (Betula pubescens and B. pendula) with white or ash-colored bark that are often planted as ornamentals in the U.S.

a large birch (Betula alleghaniensis synonym B. lutea) of chiefly eastern North America with thin lustrous gray or yellow bark forming plates with ragged edges in older trees; also : its strong hard dark brown to reddish-brown wood

the punishment of being hit with a birch stick