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Port Orford cedar

Port Orford cedar

7.7
Wood from the Port Orford cedar tree that is light, strong, and has a nice smell
  • noun
  • /pɔrt ˈɔrfərd ˈsidər/
  • US
translation icon : madera de cedro de Port Orford
  • The artisan crafted a beautiful table from Port Orford cedar.

Examples

  • Due to its rot resistance, Port Orford cedar is popular for use in boat building.

  • The musical instrument maker chose Port Orford cedar for its unique tonal qualities.

  • They lined the closets with Port Orford cedar to keep insects away.

  • Many people love the fragrance of Port Orford cedar wood.

  • Due to its rot resistance, Port Orford cedar is often used for making outdoor furniture.

  • The carpenter selected Port Orford cedar because it is lightweight and holds a pleasant scent.

  • Craftsmen appreciate Port Orford cedar for its durability and suitability for fine woodworking.

Synonyms

cedar
vsPort Orford cedar
12 3.1

Long-lasting, pleasant-smelling wood used for furniture and lining closets to keep moths away

is the single species' wood that is lighter and used for specialty woodworking
cedarwood
vsPort Orford cedar
1 3.5

Wood from cedar trees that smells pleasant, resists rot, and is used for chests and furniture

is the wood of one specific tree species prized for light weight and specialty uses
cigar-box cedar
vsPort Orford cedar
6.9

A light fragrant wood that people use to make cigar boxes and protect cigars

is used more broadly in specialty woodworking beyond small box making
red cedar
vsPort Orford cedar
  • US
4.9

Reddish fragrant wood that people use to make furniture and keep moths away

is paler and prized for its light weight and specialty uses

How Durable

teak
3 5.4
oak
44 1.0
Port Orford cedar
  • US
7.7
pine
39 2.6
balsa
3 5.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

Port + Orford + cedar

This is a straightforward toponym + noun combination: 'Port Orford' (a place/name) + 'cedar' (a type of tree/wood), so the meaning 'a particular kind of cedar or cedar wood from Port Orford' is directly compositional. Even if learners do not know the specific place, the pattern 'place/name + species' is common cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will infer it denotes a type of cedar.

Etymology

The wood called Port Orford cedar comes from the same place: people in Port Orford used the light, fragrant cedar for boats and fine work. Because builders and craftsmen loved that 'wood', the name also came to mean the timber itself.