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selva

[ sel-vuh ]
/ ˈsɛl və /
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noun
a tropical rainforest, as that in the Amazon basin of South America.
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Origin of selva

First recorded in 1840–50; from Brazilian Portuguese, Portuguese: literally “forest,” from Latin silva; see origin at silva
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use selva in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for selva

selva
/ (ˈsɛlvə) /

noun
dense equatorial forest, esp in the Amazon basin, characterized by tall broad-leaved evergreen trees, epiphytes, lianas, etc
a tract of such forest

Word Origin for selva

C19: from Spanish and Portuguese, from Latin silva forest
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
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