Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Diospyros ebenum

Diospyros ebenum

9.9
A tropical tree from southern Asia with very hard, dark wood used for fine furniture and musical instruments
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Diospyros ebenum
  • The wood of Diospyros ebenum is highly prized for making fine furniture and musical instruments.

Examples

  • Many antique cabinets from India are crafted from Diospyros ebenum due to its strength and beautiful dark color.

  • Conservationists are concerned about the overharvesting of Diospyros ebenum in its native regions.

  • The Diospyros ebenum tree is known for its dense, dark wood.

  • Many artisans prefer Diospyros ebenum for fine furniture.

  • The wood of Diospyros ebenum is highly prized for making fine furniture and musical instruments.

  • Many antique cabinets from India are crafted from Diospyros ebenum due to its strength and beautiful dark color.

  • Conservationists are concerned about the overharvesting of Diospyros ebenum in its native regions.

Synonyms

ebony
vsDiospyros ebenum
1 6.7

A tropical tree that makes very hard dark wood for furniture

is valued for hard dark heartwood used mainly in fine cabinetmaking
ebony tree
vsDiospyros ebenum
  • Indian
7.4

A tropical tree with very hard dark wood used for furniture and carving

is prized specifically for fine cabinetmaking and general woodwork

Surface Forms

Diospyros ebenum singular
Diospyros ebenums plural

Morphology

Diospyros + ebenum

This is a Latin binomial composed of a genus name (Diospyros, a group of trees) and a species epithet ('ebenum' referring to ebony wood), so the meaning—a Diospyros species yielding dark, dense ebony—is derivable from the parts. However, the species epithet is a non‑English/technical Latin form (not found in the dictionary) and understanding the taxonomic naming convention requires specialized knowledge, so it is not fully transparent to an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Diospyros ebenum gets its name from old words: Diospyros may mean 'divine' and ebenum is the source of the word 'ebony', meaning very dark wood. Picture a 'divine ebony' tree with hard, black heartwood used for fine furniture and instruments, and that's why this name refers to that valuable tree.