tawa

noun

ta·​wa

ˈtäwə,

ˈtau̇ə

plural -s

: a New Zealand evergreen tree (Beilschmiedia tawa) of the family Lauraceae with slender branches and graceful foliage resembling that of the willow and white straight-grained wood used chiefly for rough work (as clothespins)

Word History

Etymology

Maori

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!