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Glite Dictionary
Ceiba pentandra

Ceiba pentandra

9.9
A large tropical tree that makes pods with seeds covered in soft floss used to stuff pillows
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : ceiba pentandra
  • Farmers harvest the floss from Ceiba pentandra trees to use as stuffing for pillows and mattresses.

Examples

  • The towering Ceiba pentandra dominates the rainforest canopy with its impressive height and sprawling branches.

  • Many tropical animals rely on the Ceiba pentandra for shelter and food throughout the year.

  • The majestic Ceiba pentandra towers over the rainforest.

  • Many birds nest in the Ceiba pentandra during the rainy season.

  • Farmers harvest the floss from Ceiba pentandra trees to use as stuffing for pillows and mattresses.

  • Many tropical animals rely on the Ceiba pentandra for shelter and food throughout the year.

  • The towering Ceiba pentandra dominates the rainforest canopy with its impressive height and sprawling branches.

Synonyms

kapok
vsCeiba pentandra
1 9.9

A large tropical tree that makes seed pods with silky fibers used for stuffing

is the species name focusing on the plant rather than its product
silk-cotton tree
vsCeiba pentandra
8.7

A very large tropical tree whose trunk has deep grooves and seed pods of soft, fluffy material used for stuffing

is the scientific species name rather than a common label
ceiba tree
vsCeiba pentandra
  • US
8.6

A very large tropical tree with a thick trunk and seed pods of silky fibers

is the scientific species name rather than the everyday name
God tree
vsCeiba pentandra
  • Indian
9.9

A large tropical tree with a thick bumpy trunk that gives silky kapok fiber

is the scientific species name not the cultural or honorific label
white silk-cotton tree
vsCeiba pentandra
9.3

A very large tropical tree with a rough trunk and pods of soft fibers around seeds used for stuffing

is the species name without mentioning color or variant
Bombay ceiba
vsCeiba pentandra
9.9

A large tropical tree with a rough trunk and seed pods full of soft fibers used for pillows

is the scientific species name rather than the regional common name

Surface Forms

Ceiba pentandra singular

Morphology

Ceiba + pentandra

This is a scientific binomial (Latin) species name rather than a compositional English phrase. A B1 learner who knows 'Ceiba' might guess it refers to a tree genus, but 'pentandra' is not an English word (and its botanical/Latin sense would be unknown), so the specific meaning (‘a particular kapok tree species’) cannot be derived from the parts without specialist/Latin knowledge.

Etymology

Ceiba pentandra is a very large tropical tree whose pods hold seeds wrapped in soft, white floss. The fluffy floss, called 'kapok', was used to fill pillows and mattresses, so the tree is known today as the source of that light, fluffy stuffing.