balsa

noun

bal·​sa ˈbȯl-sə 

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

Upon investigation, Bosman's fiance found out that Tofu most likely split her tooth while chewing on a toy music box made of balsa wood. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025

During this time the balsa wood absorbs up to eight times its weight in water, and the glow begins only when it’s exposed to oxygen. —Michael Irving, New Atlas, 1 Dec. 2024

Even props from the 1997 Titanic film have brought in big bucks, as just last year, the iconic piece of balsa wood that Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet hang onto in the movie's final scenes sold for $718,750. —Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 27 Apr. 2025

The balsa tree material that's similar to the feathers obviously helped with this. —Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 4 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for balsa

• khalsa
• salsa

Kids Definition

balsa

noun

bal·​sa ˈbȯl-sə 

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