balata

noun

ba·la·ta bə-ˈlä-tə

: the dried latex of a tropical American tree (genus Manilkara and especially M. bidentata) of the sapodilla family that is similar to gutta-percha and is used especially in belting and golf balls

also : a tree yielding it

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Carib

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of balata was in 1860

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balas

balata

balatong

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Style

“Balata.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/balata. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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balata

noun

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