Congo copal
- noun
- Specialized
:
copal del Congo
- Fossilized Congo copal can be polished and used to make beautiful jewelry.
Examples
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The craftsman used Congo copal as a key ingredient in his traditional varnish.
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Many Congo copals are found in the riverbeds of the Congo.
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Scientists analyze Congo copal to study ancient plant life from the Congo region.
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The artisan crafted a beautiful necklace from Congo copal.
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Fossilized Congo copal can be polished and used to make beautiful jewelry.
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The craftsman used Congo copal as a key ingredient in his traditional varnish.
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Scientists analyze Congo copal to study ancient plant life from the Congo region.
Synonyms
A hard tree resin partly turned to stone and found underground
Old tree sap that is partly turned to stone
A hardened tree resin dug from the ground that is between copal and amber
A hard sticky substance from trees in Africa used to make varnish and glue
A hard tree resin with a strong smell used to make varnish and polish wood
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a resin from the Congo region' is directly and compositionally derived from 'Congo' (place of origin) + 'copal' (a type of brittle resin). This place+product compound follows a common, cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Congo copal comes from sticky tree sap that dried and hardened in the Congo, and copal is the name for this resin. Because it is hard and can be polished, people use it to make 'varnishes' and 'jewelry'.
