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ombu

ombu

9.9
A large South American tree with a wide trunk that stores water and dark green leaves
  • noun
  • /ˈɑmˌbu/
translation icon : ombú
  • We discovered an impressive ombu while hiking in the South American rainforest.

Examples

  • The ombu tree provides shade in the hot sun with its broad, leafy canopy.

  • In the garden, the ombu stands tall, its trunk filled with water and its leaves a rich dark green.

  • The duel between Vega and the devil took place at such a site under a magic, or at least enchanted, tree, a solitary ombu.

    Academic text (1995)

Synonyms

Phytolacca dioica
vsombu
  • Specialized
9.9

A fast-growing evergreen tree from South America with a wide trunk that holds water and dark green oval leaves

lists the same physical features in a plain factual way
bella sombra
vsombu
9.9

A fast-growing evergreen tree with a thick water-filled trunk and dark oval leaves that gives shade

gives the features directly without highlighting or emphasis

Surface Forms

ombu singular
ombus plural

Etymology

The word ombu comes from a native South American language, likely Guaraní, where it was the name for the large local tree. Because the ombu stands out on the flat pampas with a wide, water-filled trunk and deep shade, the name was adopted into Spanish and English to mean that specific tree.