balsa

noun

bal·​sa ˈbȯl-sə How to pronounce balsa (audio)
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) 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Each one rests in a wire frame on top of a thin balsa box with a tag at its center. — Daniel Barnum, Longreads, 15 Oct. 2026 This method was tested on different types of wood, including linden, alongside balsa, Bahia walnut, okoumé, and ash. — New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2026 For more than two decades, truck driver Joe Macken spent his free time building a massive scale model of his native New York City out of balsa wood and foam board. — CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026 That big grapnel’s not made of balsa wood. — Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for balsa

Word History

Etymology

Spanish

First Known Use

1777, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of balsa was in 1777

Rhymes for balsa

See All Rhymes for balsa

Browse Nearby Words

baloxavir marboxil
balsa
balsam
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Cite this Entry

“Balsa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/balsa. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

balsa

noun
bal·​sa ˈbȯl-sə How to pronounce balsa (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on balsa

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about balsa

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