meranti
|me-ran-ti|
/məˈrɑːnti/
tropical hardwood
Etymology
'meranti' originates from Malay/Indonesian, specifically the word 'meranti', where it was the local name for certain hardwood trees and their timber.
'meranti' entered English as a trade name in the 19th century from Malay/Indonesian usage and became established in timber and shipping vocabulary to refer to wood from several Southeast Asian species (chiefly Shorea).
Initially, it referred to local tree species and their wood in Malay/Indonesian; in English it has retained that sense and is used primarily as a trade name for the timber and occasionally for the trees themselves.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a trade name for the timber of several Southeast Asian trees (mainly Shorea species) used in construction, joinery, and furniture; available in varieties such as red meranti, yellow meranti, and white meranti.
The furniture was made from meranti because it is relatively durable and affordable.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the tropical trees that yield this timber (several species in the Dipterocarpaceae family, especially of the genus Shorea).
Several meranti trees grew along the riverbank.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/23 16:08