carnauba

[ kahr-nou-buh, -naw-, -noo- ]

noun
  1. a palm, Copernicia prunifera, of Brazil, having palmate leaves covered with wax.

  2. Also called carnauba wax . the hard, lustrous wax obtained from the leaves of this tree, used as a polish or floor wax.

Origin of carnauba

1
1850–55; <Brazilian Portuguese <Tupi karanaʾiwa

Words Nearby carnauba

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British Dictionary definitions for carnauba

carnauba

/ (kɑːˈnaʊbə) /


noun
  1. Also called: wax palm a Brazilian fan palm, Copernicia cerifera

  2. Also called: carnauba wax the wax obtained from the young leaves of this tree, used esp as a polish

Origin of carnauba

1
from Brazilian Portuguese, probably of Tupi origin

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