second-growth
UK[ˈsɛkənd ɡrəʊθ]US[ˈsɛkənd ɡroʊθ]
adj
Relating to or being forest trees that have grown after the removal of a previous stand, as by cutting or fire.
n
A forest or stand of trees that has grown after the removal of a previous forest.
Morpheme Breakdown
second
growth
second
coming after the first.
growth
the process or result of growing.
Etymology
The term "second-growth" is a transparent English compound formed in the 19th century within the field of forestry. The first element, "second," derives from the Latin secundus, meaning "following," which entered English via French. The second element, "growth," originates from the Proto-Germanic verb for "to grow," which became the Old English grōwan. The compound logically describes forest vegetation that follows or replaces an initial, primary forest that has been removed, capturing the sequential and regenerative nature of the process. Its formation follows a common English pattern of combining a descriptive adjective with a concrete noun to create a specific technical term.
Analysis
Structure: second + growth
- second: From Latin secundus (following, next), via Old French. In this compound, it functions as a numerical adjective meaning "coming after the first."
- growth: From Old English grōwan (to grow) + the noun-forming suffix -th. It functions as a noun meaning "the process or result of growing."
Examples
The hikers walked through a dense area of second-growth forest, where young trees had reclaimed the old logging site.
Conservationists debate whether second-growth provides the same ecological value as old-growth habitats.
The property was mostly covered in second-growth, primarily consisting of pine and poplar saplings.