areca nut
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The seed of the areca palm (Areca catechu): A hard, astringent seed, commonly known as the betel nut, which is chewed for its stimulant effects.
- A masticatory substance: The nut is typically chewed in combination with betel leaf, slaked lime, and sometimes tobacco, forming a quid with psychoactive properties.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The areca nut is a key ingredient in the betel quid chewed across many Asian cultures.
- Traders exported sacks of dried areca nuts from the port.
Advanced Usage
- Cultural and ritualistic use: The areca nut holds significant cultural value, often used in ceremonies, as a social offering, and in traditional medicine.
- The offering of areca nut and betel leaf is a traditional gesture of welcome.
Variants and Related Words
- Betel nut: A common synonym for areca nut, though technically it refers to the nut prepared for chewing with betel leaf.
- Areca palm: The tree (Areca catechu) that produces the areca nut.
- Betel quid / Paan: The prepared chew containing sliced or grated areca nut, betel leaf, lime, and other flavorings.
Synonyms
- Betel nut (common synonym in the context of the chew).
- Pinang (a term used in some Southeast Asian languages).
Related Phrases
- To chew betel: The act of consuming a betel quid containing areca nut.
- It is common to see elders chewing betel in the village.
Related Idioms
Noun
- seed of betel palm; chewed with leaves of the betel pepper and lime as a digestive stimulant and narcotic in southeastern Asia