Dictionary

(mostly in botany and forestry) The wood from any dicotyledonous tree, without regard to its hardness.

Example: Balsa is a hardwood, but a soft hardwood.

(in more general use) As the preceding but limited to those that are commercial timbers, and are at least average in hardness.

Example: Ash, hickory and oak are some of the most prominent domestic hardwoods.

The tree or tree species that yields the preceding.

Example: This hardwood has been planted extensively throughout the hills here.

A joint term for the commercial timbers, without distinguishing which.

Example: You should have used hardwood for this window sill instead of this junk.

Of a floor: made of interlocking hardwood boards.