Definition

Noun: * A Natural Resin: "Gutta balata" refers to the dried, coagulated latex obtained from certain tropical trees, most notably the balata tree (Manilkara bidentata). When dried, it yields a hard, non-elastic, and tough substance.

Usage

• The primary use of gutta balata is as a material in manufacturing. Its specific properties make it suitable for certain industrial applications.
• It is processed from its raw, milky state into a solid form.

Examples

• Historically, gutta balata was an important material for covering golf balls before the modern era.
• The hardness of gutta balata made it useful for making machine belts and other durable items.
• Gutta balata is sometimes used as a substitute for gutta-percha, though it is less elastic.

Advanced Usage

• Technical/Historical Context: The term is often encountered in historical or technical descriptions of materials, particularly in discussions about the evolution of golf ball design or early industrial polymers.

Variants and Related Words

• Balata: Often used as a shorter, more common name for gutta balata.
• Gutta-percha: A similar natural latex from different trees, historically more common and elastic than gutta balata.

Synonyms

• Balata
• Natural latex (specific, hardened form)

Notes on Meaning

• The definition specifically highlights its property when dried ("yields a hard substance"), distinguishing it from the raw liquid latex. Its most cited historical use is "in golf balls."

Noun

1. when dried yields a hard substance used e.g. in golf balls