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Glite Dictionary
🌳 A tree 🪵 A light wood
white poplar

white poplar

6.7
A light wood from the tulip tree used to make furniture and veneers
  • noun
  • /ˈwaɪt ˈpɑːpələr/
  • US
translation icon : madera de álamo blanco
  • Veneer sheets made of white poplar are popular for their durability and appearance.

Examples

  • The cabinet was crafted from white poplar, giving it a smooth finish.

  • Because of its light weight, white poplar is often chosen for making drawers.

  • The furniture is made from white poplar.

  • Many artisans prefer white poplar for its workability.

  • The artisan chose white poplar for the table due to its light weight and easy workability.

  • He selected white poplar for the cabinet doors because it takes stain beautifully.

  • For the new sofa, they used white poplar to ensure a sturdy yet lightweight frame.

Synonyms

whitewood
vswhite poplar
  • Specialized
1 7.2

Light pale wood from the tulip tree used to make furniture and veneer

is the same wood but without stressing frequency of use
true tulipwood
vswhite poplar
  • Specialized
9.0

Light, easy to work wood from the tulip tree used for furniture and veneers

is the common name for this same furniture and veneer wood
yellow poplar
vswhite poplar
  • US
6.6

Light wood from the tulip tree that is easy to cut and used for furniture

is the same wood but described simply by its furniture and veneer use
tulipwood
vswhite poplar
  • US
8.5

Wood from a tulip tree used for making furniture

is the same light wood but emphasises furniture and veneer use instead

How Workable

balsa
3 5.6
white poplar
  • US
6.7
pine
39 2.6
maple
29 1.0
oak
44 1.0

Surface Forms

white poplar singular
white poplars plural

Morphology

white + poplar

This is a straightforward adjective + noun compound naming a variety of poplar (or the wood from that tree); a B1 learner who knows 'white' and 'poplar' can infer it refers to a pale/whitish type of poplar or its timber. The composition follows a common descriptive pattern (color + tree/wood) found across languages, so the meaning is directly derivable from the parts.

Etymology

White poplar as a kind of wood is named for its pale, light-coloured timber: the word white describes the colour and poplar names the tree, so furniture makers called the wood 'white poplar' to show it is light and easy to work with.