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Glite Dictionary
totara

totara

9.9
A tall New Zealand tree with hard reddish wood used for furniture and boats
  • noun
  • New Zealand
translation icon : totara
  • Many old bridges in New Zealand were constructed from sturdy totara logs.

Examples

  • The totara tree stands majestically in the forest.

  • A craftsman selected a piece of totara for making a beautiful table.

  • The Maori people traditionally used the wood of the totara to build canoes.

  • Many builders prefer totara for its durability.

  • The strong and durable totara tree is often used in traditional Māori carving.

  • Carpenters choose totara wood for its resistance to decay, making it ideal for outdoor furniture.

  • In New Zealand, the totara tree is valued for its beautiful reddish wood, perfect for crafting intricate sculptures.

Synonyms

Podocarpus totara
vstotara
  • Specialized
9.9

A large evergreen tree from New Zealand that has hard reddish wood used for furniture and piers

is the everyday common name rather than the Latin form

Compounds

alpine totara
  • New Zealand
9.9

A low, wide-spreading evergreen shrub with thin pointed leaves that grows on New Zealand mountains

Podocarpus totara
  • Specialized
9.9

A large evergreen tree from New Zealand that has hard reddish wood used for furniture and piers

Surface Forms

totara singular
totaras plural

Etymology

Totara comes from the Māori name for a native New Zealand tree. The Māori used its very hard, long-lasting wood for canoes, bridges, and furniture, so totara today means a 'valuable timber tree'.