Samara

geographical name

Sa·​ma·​ra sə-ˈmär-ə 

variants or 1935–91 Kuybyshev

ˈkwē-bə-ˌshef 

ˈkü-ē-bə-, 

-ˌshev

city of eastern Russia in Europe in the valley of the Volga River population 1,165,000

Did you know?

Not familiar with the term samara referring to the winged fruit of the elm, ash, maple, and sycamore, among other trees? Then how about "key," "whirlybird," "helicopter," "whirligig," or "spinning jenny"? Those nicknames are all excellent descriptors of a samara. A samara resembles a key and when it falls its unique shape enables it to spin like a helicopter's rotor and drift away from its tree. Botanists began using the term "samara" in the late 16th century. In Latin, it means literally "seed of the elm."

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Kids Definition

samara

noun

sa·​ma·​ra ˈsam-ə-rə 

sə-ˈmar-ə, 

-ˈmär-

: a dry usually one-seeded winged fruit (as of an elm tree) that does not split open when ripe