Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
tolu tree

tolu tree

9.9
A medium-sized South American tree that makes a fragrant sap and hard wood for fine furniture
  • noun
  • /ˈtoʊluː triː/
  • Specialized
translation icon : árbol de tolu
  • The wood from the tolu tree is prized for making fine furniture and cabinetry.

Examples

  • Tolu balsam is harvested from the trunk of the tolu tree in South America.

  • The fragrant resin from the tolu tree has been used in perfumes and traditional medicine.

  • The tolu tree is known for its fragrant resin.

  • Many craftsmen prefer using tolu trees for their furniture.

  • The wood from the tolu tree is highly valued for crafting elegant furniture.

  • Tolu balsam, extracted from the tolu tree, is often used in high-quality cosmetics.

  • Artisans frequently choose the durable wood of the tolu tree for their cabinetry.

Synonyms

Myroxylon balsamum
vstolu tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A medium tree from tropical America with hard fragrant wood and a scented liquid used in perfume and medicine

is the general common name used by non specialists
Myroxylon toluiferum
vstolu tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A tropical American tree producing fragrant hard wood for fine furniture and tolu balsam for perfumes

is the common everyday name used outside scientific contexts
tolu balsam tree
vstolu tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A medium tropical American tree with sweet-smelling sap used in perfume and fine wood for furniture

is the standard common name used in general contexts rather than trade

Surface Forms

tolu tree singular
tolu trees plural

Morphology

tolu + tree

The structure 'tolu tree' is a regular noun-modifier + head-noun composition meaning 'a kind/type of tree called tolu', so a learner who knows both constituents would infer it denotes a tree species. Although 'tolu' is a specialized/botanical term (not common) and the detailed properties (resin, wood quality) are not derivable, the basic categorical meaning 'a tree of that name' is transparently compositional.

Etymology

Tolu tree may come from a town called Tolú in Colombia, where people long ago collected a sweet-smelling 'resin' from the tree. That's why the Tolu tree is known today for its fragrant 'balsam' and fine wood.