Laminated is made of pieces that have the same length and width. Butcher block is made of pieces with varying length but the same width. Veneer is a thin layer of wood applied in sheets over underlying layers of wood, plywood or particleboard. Plywood is made of thin layers of solid wood glued over each other with grains running at 90-degree angles to produce a strong core. Gluing chips and particles of wood together and pressing them into sheets, upon which a veneer can be glued, makes particleboard.
Hardwoods come from deciduous trees.
Softwoods come from conifers. Drawer construction is generally a good indication of overall furniture quality. Some drawers have no guides. Many drawers have glue-blocks to strengthen the bottom. Now, as in the past, doweled and dovetailed drawer joints indicate a high degree of craftsmanship.