Beech n.; pl. Beeches Bot. A tree of the genus Fagus.
Note: ☞ It grows to a large size, having a smooth bark and thick foliage, and bears an edible triangular nut, of which swine are fond. The Fagus sylvatica is the European species, and the Fagus ferruginea that of America.
Beech drops Bot., a parasitic plant which grows on the roots of beeches (Epiphegus Americana).
Beech marten Zool., the stone marten of Europe (Mustela foina).
Beech mast, the nuts of the beech, esp. as they lie under the trees, in autumn.
Beech oil, oil expressed from the mast or nuts of the beech tree.
Cooper beech, a variety of the European beech with copper-colored, shining leaves.
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Fagus sylvatica
n : large European beech with minutely-toothed leaves; widely
planted as an ornamental in North America [syn: common
beech, European beech]