leadwood

Extremely heavy wood

Leadwood is any of several trees known for exceptionally dense, heavy wood that sinks in water.

The name applies to different species across regions—including African leadwood and various tropical hardwoods prized for their durability.

The wood resists rot and insects, making it valuable for fence posts and heavy construction despite being difficult to work: The leadwood post outlasted three generations of fencing.

tree

bushveld

African subtropical woodland ecosystem

savannaTropical grassland, sparse trees
drought-resistantAble to withstand aridity
slow-growingDeveloping at leisurely pace

canopy · bark · trunk · roots · branches · timber · lumber · indigenous · native · botanical

dense

heavy

Of great mass

compactTightly packed together
impenetrableImpossible to pass through
solidFirm matter state

massive · substantial · weighty · ironwood · ebony · blackwood

durable

rot-resistant

Unlikely to decompose

weatherproofResistant to outdoor elements
long-lastingPersisting over extended time
sturdySolidly built, durable

robust · resilient · indestructible · hardwearing · permanent · stable · fence-posts · construction · carving · firewood

skeletal

bleached

Had color removed

greyNeutral achromatic tone
twistedWound around itself
gnarledTwisted and knotty

sculptural · stark · ghostly · bones · carcass · deadwood · weathered · eroded · ancient · photogenic

Opposites

wood density/weight

leadwoodbalsa

Extremely light timber

balsa wood · corkwood · cork · balsawood · basswood

Family

lead, wood, leads, led, leading, leader, leaders, leadership, leaden

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G