areca

[ uh-ree-kuh, ar-i- ]

/ əˈri kə, ˈær ɪ- /

noun

any tropical Asian palm of the genus Areca, as the betel palm.

Nearby words

area vasculosa, area vitellina, areal, areal velocity, areaway, areca, arecibo, arecibo observatory, arecoline, areflexia, areg

Origin of areca

1500–10; < New Latin (earlier E spellings reflect Portuguese or F); all ultimately < Malayalam aṭaykka

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for areca

Another ugly habit is the chewing of betel, the nut of the areca palm, which is mixed with pepper leaves and lime.
Two Years with the Natives in the Western Pacific|Felix Speiser
This he places, with betel leaves and areca nuts, near the grave.
Omens and Superstitions of Southern India|Edgar Thurston
He then takes a tender cocoanut, flower of the areca palm, and some powdered rice, which he covers over with a palm leaf.
Castes and Tribes of Southern India|Edgar Thurston
The roads were good, and were continuously shaded by fruit-trees, coco and areca palms.
The Former Philippines thru Foreign Eyes|Toms de Comyn

The fruit of Areca catechu is the betel nut, the favourite stimulant of the Eastern people, which they chew with lime.
Shifts and Expedients of Camp Life, Travel & Exploration|W. B. Lord

British Dictionary definitions for areca

areca

/ (ˈærɪkə, əˈriːkə) /

noun

any of various tall palms of the genus Areca, which are native to SE Asia and have white flowers and orange or red egg-shaped nuts

Word Origin for areca

C16: from Portuguese, from Malayalam adekka

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012