cocoa palm
- noun
- /ˈkoʊkoʊ pɑːlm/
- The cocoa palm is essential for the local economy, providing both food and materials for many residents.
Examples
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The beach was lined with tall cocoa palms swaying gently in the breeze.
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Farmers harvest coconuts from the cocoa palm to produce oil and other products.
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The cocoa palm thrives in warm, coastal areas with plenty of sunlight.
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The cocoa palm grows tall in tropical climates.
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Many cocoa palms can be found in Hawaii.
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The tropical beach was lined with tall cocoa palms swaying gently in the breeze.
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Farmers harvest coconuts from the cocoa palms that grow in abundance on this island.
Synonyms
A tall tropical tree with one trunk and large fan-shaped leaves
A tall tree with one straight trunk and big leaves at the top
A tall tropical palm tree that grows large hard fruits
A tall tropical palm that grows coconuts near the coast
A tall palm tree that grows a large round fruit with a hard shell in tropical places
A tall tropical palm tree that grows coconuts
A tall tropical palm tree that produces coconuts
A tall tropical palm tree that grows coconuts
Surface Forms
Morphology
cocoa + palm
The compound is not transparently built: 'cocoa' normally refers to cacao/chocolate (or the cacao tree), not coconuts, so a B1 learner who knows 'cocoa' and 'palm' would not infer 'a palm bearing coconuts'. The form appears non-compositional or possibly erroneous (likely intended 'coconut palm'), making the intended meaning unpredictable without prior exposure.
Etymology
Cocoa palm likely comes from the old word coco, meaning 'head', because a coconut's three small holes look like a face. So the palm is the tree that makes those 'coco' nuts, which is why cocoa palm means 'a palm tree that bears coconuts'.