gutta-percha tree
- noun
- /ˈɡʌtəˌpɜrʧə/
- Specialized
- The latex extracted from the gutta-percha tree is used in dental procedures.
Examples
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During the colonial era, the gutta-percha tree became an important export in Southeast Asia.
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The gutta-percha tree is native to Southeast Asia.
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Botanists studied the gutta-percha tree for its unique medicinal properties.
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Many gutta-percha trees can be found in India.
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The latex extracted from the gutta-percha tree is used in dental procedures.
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During the colonial era, the gutta-percha tree became an important export in Southeast Asia.
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Many gutta-percha trees can be found in India.
Synonyms
A tropical Southeast Asian tree that makes a hard natural sap used like rubber
A group of medium to large trees from Malaysia that produce gutta-percha, a natural rubber
Surface Forms
Morphology
gutta-percha + tree
The compound is a straightforward noun–noun composition: 'gutta-percha' (the substance) + 'tree' yields 'a tree that produces gutta-percha', so the meaning is directly derivable from the constituents. Although 'gutta-percha' is a rare technical word, a B1 learner who knows both constituent words would readily infer the MWE meaning; this substance+tree pattern is cross-linguistically common and predictable.
Etymology
Gutta-percha tree is a tree people cut to collect a thick, sticky sap that dried into a hard, 'rubber'-like material. The words gutta and percha named that sap, so the tree's name shows it is the plant that gives this useful material, once used to cover cables and in dental work.
