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Glite Dictionary
lightwood

lightwood

3 9.6
A tall Australian tree with dark wood often used for furniture
  • noun
  • Australian
translation icon : madera clara
  • The furniture was crafted from rare lightwood native to Australia.

Examples

  • The lightwood acacia is protected in some regions due to overharvesting.

  • Carpenters seek out lightwood for its durability and attractive grain.

  • The lightwood tree grows in many parts of Australia.

  • Many craftsmen prefer using lightwood for fine furniture.

  • The artisan chose lightwood for the cabinet because of its beautiful grain and durability.

  • Many furniture makers prefer lightwood due to its resistance to warping and ease of shaping.

  • He built a stunning table from lightwood, showcasing its rich color and smooth finish.

Synonyms

Acacia melanoxylon
vslightwood
  • Specialized
9.9

A tall Australian tree with hard dark wood used for furniture and instruments

focuses on timber use for furniture and fine woodworking rather than botanical naming

Surface Forms

lightwood singular
lightwoods plural

Morphology

lightwood = light + wood (opaque) = light + wood

Although composed of 'light' + 'wood', the sense name for an Australian acacia producing dark timber cannot be derived from the literal meanings of the components.

Etymology

Lightwood is simply the two words light and wood joined together. A helpful way to remember it is that it once named wood that was easy 'to light' for fires, and in Australia it now refers to a tall acacia tree and its valuable timber used for furniture.