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second growth

second growth

1 6.7
A young forest that came back after the original trees were cut or burned
  • noun
  • /ˈsɛkənd ɡroʊθ/
translation icon : regeneración
  • A bird's-eye view of the present-day NHLD reveals a landscape made up of relatively intact second-growth forest (figure 1).
  • second growth forest
  • second growth woodland
  • second growth vegetation

Examples

  • Articles covering reports of spotted owls in second-growth forests failed to report the uncertainty scientists face regarding those owls' long-term viability.

    Academic text (1994)
  • The continuing harvest of the remaining stands of old-growth forest and the degradation of second-growth forests are taking their toll worldwide.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Precisely why altitudinal migrants that normally occur in forests move into second growth is not completely clear.

    Academic text (1992)
  • However, the government did continue to allow the use of slash-and-burn techniques, though only in second-growth forests, for the next five years.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Consequently, abundance in second-growth habitat tends to be more variable than in forest.

    Academic text (1992)
  • At the end of that time, the prohibition of slash-and-burn was extended to second-growth areas as well.

    Academic text (1993)
  • The three primary sources, however, are old-growth, second-growth, and plantation forests.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Many streamsides are now dominated by second-growth hardwood forests.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Most old-growth longleaf-pine timber was removed between 1880 and 1930; what longleaf acreage is left is second growth.

    Academic text (2008)
  • While exploring the national park, we stumbled upon a beautiful area of second growth where young trees had flourished after the previous logging.

Synonyms

regrowth
vssecond growth
4 4.0

New parts appear on things like plants or hair after damage

refers to a forest area that grew back after fire or logging

How Mature

old growth
  • Specialized
12 6.6
forest
970 1.0
second growth
1 6.7
sapling
16 2.7

Surface Forms

second growth singular

Morphology

2nd + growth

The phrase combines 'second' (following the first) with 'growth' (a development of plants), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a later or regrown stand of trees after the original was removed. This modifier+noun composition is descriptive and follows regular English patterns, making the meaning directly derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Second growth comes from the simple image of a new set of trees growing where the first forest was cut down or burned. The word second simply means 'after the first' and growth means 'new plants', so the phrase means a forest that has regrown after fire or logging.