baobabs
|ba-o-babs|
🇺🇸
/ˈbeɪəˌbæb/, /ˈbaʊbæb/
🇬🇧
/ˈbeɪəbæb/, /ˈbaʊbæb/
(baobab)
large African tree
Etymology
'baobab' originates from Arabic, specifically the word 'bū ḥibbāb', where 'bū' meant 'father of/person with' and 'ḥibbāb' meant 'seeds' or 'many seeds'.
'baobab' changed from the Arabic form 'bū ḥibbāb' into Portuguese/Spanish sailor forms (e.g. 'baobabe') and was adopted into English as 'baobab' by the late 16th century.
Initially, it referred to the tree known for its seeds and fruit; over time this core sense remained largely unchanged and continues to denote the tree itself.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural form of 'baobab' — large trees of the genus Adansonia, native to Africa, Madagascar, and parts of Australia; noted for their massive, often bottle-shaped trunks that store water and for producing edible fruit and many seeds.
Baobabs dot the dry savannah, their massive trunks storing water through the long dry season.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/13 05:12