balsa
a tropical American tree, Ochroma pyramidale (lagopus), of the bombax family, yielding an exceedingly light wood used for life preservers, rafts, toy airplanes, etc.
a raft made of balsa wood.
any life raft.
Origin of balsa
1Words Nearby balsa
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use balsa in a sentence
Well,” Vidal replied, “if you count balsa as one of the woods.
"But I do believe the 10th anniversary is the balsa-wood anniversary," retorts Tolan.
He made a landing on a sand-spit that struck off from an outward curve of the bank, and dragged the balsa out of the water.
Captured by the Navajos | Charles A. CurtisIn a few minutes the balsa lodged against the shore in the still water of a little cove.
Captured by the Navajos | Charles A. CurtisAt this time also, the master of the small bark came off in a balsa.
The first time was when, during my passage of the lake on a balsa, one of my companions had the misfortune to fall into the water.
Harry Escombe | Harry CollingwoodOn this coast we again meet with wooden canoes, although the balsa, or tule raft, is also in use.
The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume 1 | Hubert Howe Bancroft
British Dictionary definitions for balsa
/ (ˈbɔːlsə) /
a bombacaceous tree, Ochroma lagopus, of tropical America
Also called: balsawood the very light wood of this tree, used for making rafts, etc
a light raft
Origin of balsa
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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