koa

[ koh-uh ]

/ ˈkoʊ ə /

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noun

a Hawaiian acacia, Acacia koa, of the legume family, characterized by spreading branches and gray bark.

the hard, red or golden-brown wood of this tree, used for making furniture.

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Origin of koa

Borrowed into English from Hawaiian around 1840–50

Words nearby koa

knurling, knurly, Knussen, Knut, KO, koa, koala, koan, koap, kob, Kobarid

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use koa in a sentence

Mommyish editor-in-chief Koa Beck wrote an open letter encouraging the ex-sorority sister to apply for their paid internship.
Rebecca Martinson, the Viral Sorority Girl Letter Writer: How to Go From Unknown to Infamous in 60 Seconds|Tricia Romano|April 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
People will love the ‘chili water,’ which adds a nice spice to give our Koko Koa a good ‘punch.’
Lights, Camera, Cocktails|Brody Brown|August 19, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The greater part were of polished koa wood, though some were covered with red velvet ornamented with gold.
A Voyage in the 'Sunbeam'|Annie Allnut Brassey
Jar made in imitation of treasure jar, found in ruins of W-mai a. Thl-wo-pu-kia t-tsa-na -no-to-na n-te-li-ah-na y-koa.
Illustrated Catalogue of the Collections Obtained|James Stevenson

Koa Kau, one of the younger of the students, ran lightly up the stairs to give battle to the intruders.
The Black-Bearded Barbarian (George Leslie Mackay)|Mary Esther Miller MacGregor, AKA Marion Keith
This time there was quite a little party went with him: his wife, their three children, and Koa Kau, one of his students.
The Black-Bearded Barbarian (George Leslie Mackay)|Mary Esther Miller MacGregor, AKA Marion Keith
The girls were huddled in colored groups on wide couches or garlanded in twos and threes on and in the big koa-wood chairs.
The Little Lady of the Big House|Jack London

British Dictionary definitions for koa

koa

/ (ˈkəʊə) /

noun

a Hawaiian leguminous tree, Acacia koa, yielding a hard wood

the reddish wood of this tree, used esp for furniture

Word Origin for koa

C19: from Hawaiian

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