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. 2022

How to use selva in a sentence

The Urabs, 'en las selvas y bosques de la Provincia de Urab.'
The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume 1|Hubert Howe Bancroft
Probably, as Catholics, the Selvas would not wish this man who had fled from the world to return to it.
The Saint|Antonio Fogazzaro
The Selvas, with two mules for the ladies, had left Jenne soon after him, thinking to overtake him on the hillside.
The Saint|Antonio Fogazzaro
He retired to Subiaco, stayed with the Selvas, who were spending the summer there, and fell seriously ill.
The Saint|Antonio Fogazzaro

The Selvas themselves were captivated by the fascination of this woman, so superior, so beautiful, so gentle and sad.
The Saint|Antonio Fogazzaro

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