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talipot palm

talipot palm

9.9
A tall palm tree from southern India and Sri Lanka with very large leaves used as umbrellas or for writing
  • noun
  • Indian
translation icon : palma talipot
  • The leaves of the talipot palm are so large that they are often used as makeshift umbrellas during monsoon rains.

Examples

  • In ancient times, monks would write sacred texts on strips cut from the talipot palm.

  • The garden features a magnificent talipot palm towering above the other trees.

  • The talipot palm is a remarkable tree.

  • Many talipot palms grow in Sri Lanka.

  • In ancient times, monks would write sacred texts on strips cut from the talipot palm.

  • The leaves of the talipot palm are so large that they are often used as makeshift umbrellas during monsoon rains.

  • The garden features a magnificent talipot palm towering above the other trees.

Synonyms

Corypha umbraculifera
vstalipot palm
  • Specialized
9.9

A tall palm tree with very large fan-shaped leaves used to make umbrellas, fans, and things to write on

uses a simpler phrase focusing on leaves and their uses
talipot
vstalipot palm
  • Indian
9.9

A tall palm tree from southern India and Sri Lanka whose large fan-shaped leaves serve as umbrellas and writing material

mentions the same tree but without that cutting detail

How Big

talipot palm
  • Indian
9.9
palm
116 1.8
sapling
16 2.7
seedling
20 2.8

Surface Forms

talipot palm singular
talipot palms plural

Morphology

talipot + palm

The meaning is directly compositional: 'talipot' names a particular kind of palm and 'palm' denotes the tree class, so 'talipot palm' simply denotes that specific type of palm. This noun–noun compound follows a straightforward, cross-linguistically common pattern and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.

Etymology

Talipot palm may come from the tree's local name in southern India and Sri Lanka, where people used its huge, fan-shaped leaves as umbrellas, fans, and even to write on. So, the name today points to a very tall palm known for its enormous leaves used for shelter and 'writing'.