hardwood

1. (countable, mostly in botany and forestry) The wood from any dicotyledonous tree, without regard to its hardness.Examples: "Balsa is a hardwood, but a soft hardwood."countable

2. (countable) (in more general use) As the preceding, but limited to those that are commercial timbers, and are at least average in hardness.Examples: "Ash, hickory and oak are some of the most prominent domestic hardwoods."; "Mr. Cooke had had a sloop yacht built at Far Harbor, the completion of which had been delayed, and which was but just delivered. […] The Maria had a cabin, which was finished in hard wood and yellow plush, and accommodations for keeping things cold."countable

3. (countable, forestry) The tree or tree species that yields the preceding.Examples: "This hardwood has been planted extensively throughout the hills here."countable

4. (uncountable) A joint term for the commercial timbers, without distinguishing which.Examples: "You should have used hardwood for this window sill instead of this junk."uncountable

5. (sports, slang) The sport of basketball, in particular, an indoor basketball court; so named because the floor of an indoor basketball court is normally made of hardwood.countableslanguncountable