: a piece of lumber approximately 2 by 4 inches as sawed and usually 1 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches when dressed
1
: small or petty of its kind
… this house and its two-by-four garden …—Philip Barry
2
: measuring two units (such as inches) by four
Cite this Entry
“Two-by-four.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/two-by-four. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.
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