Got Wood? Domestic Wood Turning Blanks Glossary of Wood Terminology, Part 1

Wood Terminology, Part 1 - General Terminology
Flat Sawn Flat sawn wood has the annual growth rings of the tree running parallel or very near to parallel to the surface of the wood. Flat sawn wood displays a larger amount of the grain patterns of the wood on the lumber's surface.
Rift Sawn Rift sawn wood has the annual growth rings of the tree running at an angle between approximately 30 to 60 degrees in relation to the surface of the wood. Rift sawn lumber provides displays good grain patterns, and also exposes some of the medullary rays, or ray flecks in the wood.
Quarter Sawn Quarter sawn wood has the annual growth rings of the tree running nearly perpendicular to the surface of the wood. This shows the least amount of grain pattern, but does the best job of exposing the medullary rays, or ray flecks in the wood. Quartersawn wood is also more stable than rift or flat sawn once dried.
Grain Refers to the shape, color, and orientation of the wood fibers within a piece of wood.