silk-cotton tree

/'silk,kɔn'tri:/

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Explanation of "Silk-Cotton Tree"

Definition: The "silk-cotton tree" is a large tropical tree that has a thick trunk with deep ridges. This tree produces big pods that contain seeds surrounded by soft, silky fibers. These fibers are known as kapok, which can be used for stuffing pillows and life jackets.

Usage Instructions:

• Part of Speech: Noun
• Use in Sentences: You can use "silk-cotton tree" when talking about nature, trees, or plants, especially in tropical regions.

Example Sentence:

"The silk-cotton tree is often found in rainforests, where its large pods are home to many seeds."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced discussions, you might talk about the ecological importance of the silk-cotton tree, its role in local ecosystems, or its cultural significance in certain regions.

Word Variants:

• Kapok: This is the fiber that comes from the seeds of the silk-cotton tree. It can be used as a noun, e.g., “The kapok is very soft and lightweight.”
• Ceiba: This is another name for the silk-cotton tree, especially in some cultures.

Different Meanings:

• In some contexts, the term "silk-cotton" might refer generally to the fibers derived from certain trees, not just the silk-cotton tree itself.

Synonyms:

• Kapok tree: Another name for the silk-cotton tree.
• Ceiba tree: Refers to the same tree in some regions.

Related Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

There are not many specific idioms or phrasal verbs that include "silk-cotton tree," but you might encounter phrases related to nature or trees in general, like: - "Barking up the wrong tree": This means to pursue a mistaken or misguided line of thought. It’s not directly related to the silk-cotton tree but shows how trees can be used in expressions.

Summary:

The "silk-cotton tree" is a large, tropical tree known for its distinctive trunk and the silky fibers that come from its seeds.

Academic

Noun

1. massive tropical tree with deep ridges on its massive trunk and bearing large pods of seeds covered with silky floss; source of the silky kapok fiber

Synonyms

• kapok
• ceiba tree
• white silk-cotton tree
• Bombay ceiba
• God tree
• Ceiba pentandra