noun
baobab
BAY-oh-bab/ˈbeɪəʊbæb/
A tropical tree with a massive trunk and edible fruit.
A massive baobab shades the clearing with its spreading branches.
Etymology
Latin bahobab already named this tropical African tree. The name apparently comes from a central African language, though no underlying meaning is established.
In context
The village is surrounded by several hundred baobab trees. Baababs are plants perfectly adapted to drought. Their thick water log trunk allows them to withstand long periods without rain.
More examples
- The baobabs stood far apart across the dry landscape.
- She examined the baobab fruit at the market.
- Travelers rested beside the thick trunk of the baobab.
Forms
baobab · baobabs
Similar words
- tree
- Names a broad plant category without distinctive trunk or fruit.
- bottle tree
- Describes other trees with similarly swollen trunks.