birch /bɜːtʃ $ bɜːrtʃ/ noun
[Language: Old English; Origin: birce, beorc]

1. [uncountable and countable] a tree with smooth bark (=outer covering) and thin branches, or the wood from this tree

2. the birch British English the practice of hitting people with birch sticks as an official punishment
⇒ silver birch

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲