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rosewood

rosewood

5 5.7
A hard dark reddish wood from tropical trees used to make fine furniture and musical instruments
  • noun
  • /ˈroʊzˌwʊd/
translation icon : palosanto
  • A novice gently polishes a hard rosewood bench.
  • rosewood table
  • rosewood box
  • rosewood desk

Examples

  • The CEO drummed his fingers on the rosewood and shrugged.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • The rosewood table had a bowl of flowers on it, and the crystal in the cabinet glimmered.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • But it was Will who was seated at the rosewood piano.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Charlie walks to a large rosewood wardrobe and pulls it open.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The focus-group room was long and low-lit, dominated by a rosewood conference table big enough

    Fiction book (1996)
  • The mourners were playing poker around the rosewood table the night before his father's funeral, and Lim was winning.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • "Are you going to say yes?" Sara perched a generous hip on the corner of the rosewood desk.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • There, inside our Richmond District home on 12th Avenue, I placed the slow mirror atop my rosewood dresser.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Opposite the sofa was a rosewood piano with sixty-six ivory and ebony keys, and over it were two paintings.

    Academic text (1999)
  • The antique store had a stunning rosewood cabinet that was perfect for displaying collectibles.

Synonyms

East India rosewood
vsrosewood
9.1

A large Indian tree with hard dark purple-brown wood used for fine furniture and musical instruments

is the general name for hard reddish tropical woods used in fine furniture
East Indian rosewood
vsrosewood
  • Indian
8.5

A large tree from India with dark, hard wood used for fine furniture and musical instruments

is the broader term for similar dark tropical woods used for instruments
Indian rosewood
vsrosewood
  • Indian
7.6

A large tree from India with hard dark wood used for furniture and musical instruments

is the general label covering such hard tropical woods for furniture
Brazilian rosewood
vsrosewood
8.4

A large Brazilian tree with hard dark wood used for furniture and guitars

is a broader term including this streaked tropical wood for furniture and instruments
Burmese rosewood
vsrosewood
  • Indian
9.6

A hard reddish wood from a tree in India and Myanmar used for fine furniture

is the general term covering various tropical woods with pronounced grain

Compounds

A large Brazilian tree with hard dark wood used for furniture and guitars

9.6

A hard reddish wood from a tree in India and Myanmar used for fine furniture

A large Indian tree with hard dark purple-brown wood used for fine furniture and musical instruments

A large tree from India with dark, hard wood used for fine furniture and musical instruments

Honduras rosewood
  • Specialized
8.5

A Central American tree with hard dark streaked wood used to make fine furniture and musical instruments

7.6

A large tree from India with hard dark wood used for furniture and musical instruments

rosewood tree
  • Specialized
7.3

A tropical tree that makes hard dark red wood with black streaks, used for fine furniture and musical instruments

How Hard

ebony
4 5.5
rosewood
5 5.7
oak
44 1.0
pine
39 2.6
balsa
3 5.6

Surface Forms

rosewood singular
rosewoods plural

Morphology

rosewood = rose + wood (transparent) = rose + wood

A straightforward compound of 'rose' + 'wood' denoting a specific type of timber; learners can infer it is a kind of wood from the components.

Etymology

The word rosewood comes from the simple parts rose and wood. The timber often has a deep reddish color and sometimes a sweet, 'rose-like' smell when cut, so it became the name for this hard, fine wood used for furniture and musical instruments.