balsa wood
2
3.5
- noun
- /ˈbɔːlsə wʊd/
:
madera de balsa
- Many hobbyists prefer balsa wood because it is both strong and very lightweight, ideal for model making.
- balsa wood airplane
- balsa wood model
- make of balsa wood
I'm going to use a balsa wood brayer here to rub over the areas of the inlay, just to make sure they're sitting flat.
- I'm going to use a balsa wood brayer here to rub over the areas of the inlay, just to make sure they're sitting flat.
Examples
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For sewing, these are mind blowing For doing ship modelling work, like you're building a balsa wood ship like the HMS Surprise or the Victory or something like that.
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Objects that are less dense than water, such as balsa wood, icebergs, and inflatable rafts, always float.
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It would work if we had balsa wood, you know?
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But you're a bunch of boys making models out of balsa wood.
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Rough sketches and balsa wood models of the proposed operating theatre library are on a table.
Fiction book (1990) -
A toy plane is one of those balsa wood creations that run on a rubber band.
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We'll use tools such as brayers, bone folders, and pieces of balsa wood to encourage the canvas flap.
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It was the introduction of lightweight balsa wood... ...and the newly discovered aerospace material, fiberglass... ...that cut the weight of surfboards and paved the way... ...for a younger generation to begin picking up the offbeat sport.
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The children used balsa wood to create their model airplanes, making them lightweight and easy to fly.
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She purchased balsa wood for her craft project because it is perfect for building small structures.
Synonyms
3
5.6
Very light and strong wood from a tropical tree used for models and floats
How Light
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is fully compositional: 'balsa' names a particular very light timber and 'wood' denotes the material, so 'balsa wood' simply means the wood of the balsa tree (a lightweight timber often used for models). This follows a regular noun + material compound pattern common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily understand the expression.
Etymology
Balsa wood comes from the very light wood of the balsa tree, which is soft and full of small pockets of air. Because this wood floats and is easy to cut, people use it for 'models', 'floats', and 'insulation'.