balsa

noun

bal·​sa ˈbȯl-sə 

1

: a small raft or boat

specifically : one made of tightly bundled reeds and used on Lake Titicaca

2

: a tropical American tree (Ochroma pyramidale synonym O. lagopus) of the silk-cotton family with extremely light strong wood used especially for floats

also : its wood

Examples of balsa in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There are notes of balsa wood, cinnamon, grape, apple, leather, and sweet tobacco on the palate. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 23 June 2024

Slip bobbers are small, lightweight floats, often made of balsa wood, that slide or ‘slip’ to a depth determined by the angler’s placement of a system of beads and a nylon bobber stop on the mainline. —M.d. Johnson, Field & Stream, 20 June 2024

There are notes of balsa wood, rum raisin, vanilla, milk chocolate, toasted nuts, and cinnamon on the palate, along with a strong dose of maple that almost reads like a subtle maple finish on the bourbon (to be clear, that is not the case). —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 12 June 2024

Even a jerkbait with a buoyant balsa wood body that will rise incredibly fast on the pause can be made to hover with the addition of a few dots. —Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 9 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Spanish

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

balsa

noun

bal·​sa ˈbȯl-sə 

1

: raft entry 1

especially : one made of two cylinders of metal or wood joined by a frame

2

: a tropical American tree with extremely light strong wood used especially for floats

also : its wood