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abaca

 - 3 dictionary results

a⋅ba⋅ca

  [ab-uh-kah, ah-buh-]
Use abaca in a Sentence
–noun
1. a Philippine plant, Musa textilis.
2. the fiber of this plant, used in making rope, fabrics, etc.
Origin:
1810–20; < Sp < Tagalog abaká
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ab·a·ca also ab·a·cá   (āb'ə-kä', ä'bə-)   
n.  

  1. A bananalike plant (Musa textilis) native to the Philippines and having broad leaves with long stalks.

  2. The fibers obtained from the stalks of this plant, used to make cordage, fabric, and paper. Also called manila, Manila hemp.


[Spanish abacá, from Tagalog abaka.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Encyclopedia

abaca

plant of the family Musaceae, and its fibre, which is second in importance among the leaf fibre group. Abaca fibre, unlike most other leaf fibres, is obtained from the plant leaf stalks (petioles). Although sometimes known as Manila hemp, Cebu hemp, or Davao hemp, the abaca plant is not related to true hemp.

Learn more about abaca with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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