1 [mass noun] the hard fibrous material that forms the main substance of the trunk or branches of a tree or shrub, used for fuel or timber:a block of wood [count noun]:best quality woods were used for joinery
(the wood) wooden barrels used for storing alcoholic drinks:wines from the wood
[count noun] a golf club with a wooden or other head that is relatively broad from face to back (often with a numeral indicating the degree to which the face is angled to loft the ball): [in combination]:he hit the ball with a three-wood
[count noun] Golf a shot made with a wood:he’s hitting a wood for his second shot
2 (also woods) an area of land, smaller than a forest, that is covered with growing trees:a thick hedge divided the wood from the fielda long walk in the woods
be unable to see the wood (or North Americanthe forest) for the trees
fail to grasp the main issue because of over-attention to details:it is often difficult for people in organizations to see the wood for the trees
out of the wood (or woods)
[usually with negative] out of danger or difficulty:we are not out of the woods but we have been thrown a lifeline
touch (or chiefly North Americanknock on) wood
said in order to prevent a confident statement from bringing bad luck:I haven’t been banned yet, touch wood
[with reference to the custom of touching something wooden to ward off bad luck]
