carnauba

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/ˌkɑːɹnəˈuːbə//kɑːɹˈnuːbə//kɑːɹˈnaʊbə//kɑːɹˈnɔːbə/

noun

A Brazilian palm tree having waxy, fan-shaped leaves and toothed leafstalks, Copernicia prunifera.

Similar
carnauba waxcarnauba palmwax palmCopernicia pruniferaCopernicia cerifera
OriginPortuguese carnaúba ← Old Tupi karana'yba →
UncommonScrabble 12
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Meanings

nouncarnauba (countable and uncountable, plural carnaubas)

plural carnaubas

  1. countableuncountableA Brazilian palm tree having waxy, fan-shaped leaves and toothed leafstalks, Copernicia prunifera.
  2. uncountableThe hard wax obtained from the leaves of this plant and used especially in polishes.

    Synonyms: carnauba wax

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe hard wax obtained from the leaves of this plant and used especially in polishes.

Similar
carnauba wax

More synonyms by meaning

nounhard yellowish to brownish wax from leaves of the carnauba palm used especially in floor waxes and polishes

Similar
carnauba wax
Broader
wax

nounBrazilian fan palm having an edible root; source of a useful leaf fiber and a brittle yellowish wax

Similar
carnauba palmwax palmCopernicia pruniferaCopernicia cerifera
Broader
fan palm
Also see
carandaycarnauba waxwax palm

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Old Tupikarana'yba
  2. Portuguesecarnaúba
  3. Englishcarnauba

From Portuguese carnaúba, from Old Tupi karana'yba.

More words from Portuguese, Old Tupi

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Dutch carnaubawas
  • carnaubawaswax
French carnauba
  • carnaubapalm
German Carnaubapalme, Carnaubawachs
  • Carnaubapalmepalm
  • Carnaubawachswax
Italian cera di carnauba
  • cera di carnaubawax
Korean 카르나우바납
  • 카르나우바납 (kareunaubanap)wax
Polish carnauba
  • carnaubawax
Portuguese carnaúba, carnaúba
  • carnaúbapalm
  • carnaúbawax
Spanish carnaúba, cera de carnaúba
  • carnaúbapalm
  • cera de carnaúbawax
Swedish karnaubavax
  • karnaubavaxwax

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Cabaruan
Cite this entry
APA

carnauba. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/carnauba

MLA

“carnauba.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/carnauba. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “carnauba,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/carnauba.

Source: carnauba on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.