The difference between "wood" and "woods" is primarily one of singular versus plural usage and the concepts they represent.
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"Wood" (singular) refers to the substance that makes up the trunk and branches of a tree. It is a material used for construction, manufacturing items, or as fuel.
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"Woods" (plural) refers to a dense collection of trees covering a relatively small area, smaller than a forest. It describes a specific type of landscape feature.
Here's a table to highlight the key differences:
Feature | Wood | Woods |
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Grammaticality | Singular, uncountable noun | Plural, countable noun |
Meaning | The material from trees | A small forest or a collection of trees |
Usage | "The table is made of wood." "We burned wood in the fireplace." | "We went for a walk in the woods." "The cabin is located deep in the woods." |
In summary, think of "wood" as the stuff things are made from, while "woods" is a place.