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Glite Dictionary
neem tree

neem tree

6.8
A large tree from India whose seeds and bark are used for medicine and to keep insects away
  • noun
  • /nim tri/
  • Indian
translation icon : árbol de neem

Examples

  • Its use is compatible with parasitic wasps and commercial products made with oil from the seed of the neem tree, Hoelmer says.

    Academic text (1997)

  • One very hot day, two farmers named Ram and Shyam sat cross-legged in the shade of a large neem tree.

  • Neem oil is a naturally derived oil from the neem tree that controls a wide range of insects, including beetles, caterpillars, and thrips.

  • Extracts from the seeds of the neem tree, Azadirachta indica, have been used in its native India for thousands of years.

Synonyms

neem
vsneem tree
  • Indian
1 8.2

A large Indian tree with bitter leaves used in medicine and to keep insects away

is the same meaning but used as a two word common name
Azadirachta indica
vsneem tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A large evergreen tree from India whose bark, seeds, and oil are used for medicine and to keep away pests

is the common two word name rather than the scientific form
Melia Azadirachta
vsneem tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A large tree from South Asia used in medicine and for natural pest control, also called neem

is the standard common name used in general contexts
margosa
vsneem tree
  • Indian
9.9

A large tree from South Asia with bitter bark and oil used in medicine and to keep insects away

is the standard descriptive name emphasizing origin and products
nim tree
vsneem tree
  • Indian
9.9

A large almost evergreen tree from Asia whose bitter bark and oil are used in medicine and repel insects

is the preferred two word common form used in the key description

Surface Forms

neem tree singular
neem trees plural

Morphology

neem + tree

This is compositionally transparent: 'neem' names a specific kind of plant and 'tree' denotes a tall perennial plant, so the compound simply refers to that tree species. The noun + tree pattern is productive and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will understand the meaning.

Etymology

Neem tree comes from South Asia, where the word neem named a bitter, helpful tree people often planted by their homes. People used the tree's leaves, bark, and oil as 'medicine' and to 'keep insects away', so the name now means 'a medicinal, insect-repelling tree'.