softwood

Noun

softwood (countable and uncountable, plural softwoods)

1. (uncountable) The wood from any gymnosperm, without regard to its softness.
   • The bodies are sheeted in softwood, a double layer of ⅝-in. boards on the quarters, with a single thickness lining inside the steel ends.1952 January, “British Railways Standard Wagons”, in Railway Magazine, page 61
2. (countable) Wood of this kind, but limited to those that are commercial timbers.
3. (countable) The tree or tree species that yields this wood.
   • SYP is a softwood, but it is harder than many hardwoods.
   • This softwood has been planted extensively throughout Scotland.
4. (uncountable) Any commercial timber.
   • You should have used softwood for the frame of this shed, instead of overbuilding it like this.