hardwood

softwood 

hardwood—deciduous (loses leaves in winter), examples: walnut, oak, mahogany

softwood—conifers (evergreens - retain foliage year round)

examples: pine

Note: not all hardwoods are hard (eg. balsa wood) and not all softwoods are soft (eg. yellow pine) 

2 types of construction 

joinery—frame and panel, simplest construction

cabinetry—more sophisticated, dovetail joints and larger expanses of surface 

4 types of furniture joints

BUTT—two pieces jointed at right angle, glued or nailed, simplest, least sturdy.

MITER—angled joining of end pieces, as in picture frames.

MORTISE & TENON—projection on one piece of wood (tenon) fitted into hole (mortise) in other piece and glued; strong, for framing cases, chair supports.

DOVETAIL—ends of wood pieces interlock by means of wedge-shape cuts on one piece and cuts of opposite shape on the other, so they cannot warp or separate (for drawers).