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Glite Dictionary
Metroxylon sagu

Metroxylon sagu

9.9
A Malaysian palm tree whose soft trunk produces sago used as a food starch and to make cloth
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Metroxylon sagu
  • The Metroxylon sagu is cultivated extensively for its starchy trunk, which provides a staple food for many communities.

Examples

  • Traditional methods for harvesting sago from the Metroxylon sagu have been passed down through generations.

  • In Malaysia, Metroxylon sagu is commonly harvested for its starch.

  • The widespread distribution of Metroxylon sagu spans from Malaysia to islands in the western Pacific.

  • The Metroxylon sagu palm is essential for producing sago.

  • The Metroxylon sagu palm provides sago, a vital source of starch for many coastal communities.

  • Farmers in Malaysia rely on the Metroxylon sagu for harvesting sago, which is used as a thickening agent in various dishes.

  • The Metroxylon sagu is an important plant for producing sago, widely used in food and fabric manufacturing.

Synonyms

true sago palm
vsMetroxylon sagu
  • Australian
8.9

A palm tree whose trunk gives a starchy food used for cooking

is the scientific name for that same species
sago palm
vsMetroxylon sagu
7.2

A plant that makes sago, a starchy food from its trunk

is one specific species, not the general group

Surface Forms

Metroxylon sagu singular
Metroxylon sagus plural
Metroxylon sagus plural
Metroxylon sagus singular

Morphology

Metroxylon + sagu

This is a taxonomic binomial (a scientific proper name) rather than a compositional English phrase; its meaning 'a species of sago palm' is lexicalized and not formed by ordinary English composition. One constituent ('sagu') is not a standard English word and the overall label functions as a specialized botanical name, so a B1 learner would not reliably infer the meaning from the parts.

Etymology

The plant Metroxylon sagu gets its name from the starchy food 'sago' found inside its trunk. The word sagu is a local name, and because people cut and wash the trunk to get the white, pulpy 'sago', the name tells us this palm is the source of that starch.