What term describes any light, easily cut wood that is typically cone-bearing or coniferous?

The term that describes any light, easily cut wood that is typically cone-bearing or coniferous is "softwood." Softwoods come from trees that generally have needles and cones, such as pine, cedar, and spruce. These trees grow faster than hardwoods, resulting in wood that is lighter and easier to work with. The structure of softwood is less dense compared to hardwood, which contributes to its lightweight nature and ease of cutting.

In contrast, hardwood refers to wood obtained from angiosperm trees, which are typically denser and harder than softwoods. Engineered wood and composite wood are products made from wood fibers, particles, or veneers glued together, and not from solid wood directly, thus they do not fit the definition of coniferous wood as described in the question. Therefore, "softwood" is the most appropriate term for this type of wood.