noun
balsa
BAWL-suh/ˈbɔːlsə/
A tropical American tree valued for its exceptionally light wood.
The model airplane is built from lightweight balsa wood.
Etymology
The wood's name apparently comes from Spanish balsa, “float” or “raft.” That connection highlights the lightness that makes this wood useful for floating objects.
In context
you can take simple sheets of balsa wood, you can strip them down into sticks, and you can build the most amazing airframes very economically.
More examples
- A balsa grows quickly in the warm tropical climate.
- She cut thin strips of balsa for the wing frame.
- Several young balsas stood at the edge of the clearing.
Forms
balsa · balsas
Similar words
- wood
- Is the general material without balsa's exceptional lightness.
- cork
- Is another light plant material but comes from bark rather than wood.