beech

Everyday

1. A beech is a large tree with smooth grey bark and shiny oval leaves, found in Europe and North America. tree →
2. Beech is also the hard, pale wood of this tree, used to make furniture and toys. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on trees and seasons, beech is easy to recognise by its smooth grey bark; its small three-sided nuts (beechnuts or beech mast) are eaten by squirrels, mice and birds; young beech hedges keep their brown leaves all winter. In design and technology, beech wood is used for spoons, chopping boards and toys. Phrases: «beech tree», «beech wood/beechwood», «beech hedge», «beechnut».

Examples

• A huge beech tree grows in the park. tree →
• The beech has smooth grey bark. tree →
• Squirrels collect beechnuts in autumn. tree →
• Our wooden spoon is made of beech. tree →
• The beech hedge keeps its brown leaves in winter. tree →
• Bluebells grow in the beech woods in spring. tree →
• The nightingale sings among the finely-fringed beech-leaves, looking at the blooming apple trees of the garden, and thinking that they bear roses. tree →

Note

Homophone trap: «beech» (the tree) and «beach» (sand by the sea) sound the same. Memory trick: a beech has two «e»s like a tree. Plural: «beeches».