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Glite Dictionary
caoutchouc tree

caoutchouc tree

9.9
A tree from South America that produces milky sap used to make natural rubber
  • noun
  • /ˈkaʊtʃʊk ˌtriː/
  • Archaic
translation icon : árbol de caucho
  • Latex extracted from the caoutchouc tree is processed to create natural rubber products.

Examples

  • The caoutchouc tree plays a vital role in the economy of many South American countries due to its latex production.

  • The caoutchouc tree grows abundantly along the Amazon River.

  • Botanists studied the growth patterns of the caoutchouc tree along the Amazon River.

  • Many caoutchouc trees can be found in the rainforest.

  • Latex extracted from the caoutchouc tree is processed to create natural rubber products.

  • Botanists studied the growth patterns of the caoutchouc tree along the Amazon River.

  • The caoutchouc tree plays a vital role in the economy of many South American countries due to its latex production.

Synonyms

Hevea brasiliensis
vscaoutchouc tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A tree from the Amazon that makes milky latex used for natural rubber

focuses more on leaves and flowers rather than only latex production
Para rubber tree
vscaoutchouc tree
  • Specialized
7.2

A tropical tree that gives a milky sap used to make natural rubber

specifies exact rivers and plant features rather than general continental origin

Surface Forms

caoutchouc tree singular
caoutchouc trees plural

Morphology

caoutchouc + tree

The compound 'caoutchouc tree' is compositionally transparent: 'caoutchouc' (natural rubber) modifies 'tree' to indicate a tree that yields or is associated with rubber. This material + object naming pattern is a regular, cross-linguistically common construction, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Caoutchouc tree comes from a native word early visitors heard for trees that 'weep' a white, milky sap. Because people used that sap to make 'rubber', the name stuck and now means the tree that gives natural rubber.