# balsa

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈbɔːl.sə/ · frequency rank #54,032

## Definitions
1. A large tree, Ochroma pyramidale, native to tropical America, with wood that is very light in weight.
2. The wood of this tree.
3. A raft or float, used principally on the Pacific coast of South America.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish balsa, from Paleo-Hispanic, probably Basque [Term?] or Iberian [Term?]. Not related to balsam.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/balsa