tipu

[ tee-poo ]

noun

1. a South American tree, Tipuana tipu, having pinnate leaves and showy, golden-yellow flowers, cultivated in warm climates as an ornamental.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tipu¹

From New Latin, perhaps from Portuguese; further origin undetermined

Example Sentences

Climbing a tipu tree is against the rules at SCBG; instead, you can sit nearby and read about them in Matt Ritter’s essential guidebook, “A Californian’s Guide to the Trees Among Us.”

From Los Angeles Times

Every day she watched it jump from branch to branch, barely discernible from the yellow blossoms of the tipu tree.

From New York Times

At one point, she joined Boroditsky and Ochoa under a giant South American tipu tree with a broad, sweeping canopy.

From Los Angeles Times

Lie down in the grass under one of the two enormous South American tipu trees and behold its massive, multilimbed canopy.

From Los Angeles Times

He writes that the tipu “is praised for its beauty, drought tolerance and durability in varying soil conditions, but it is criticized for having invasive roots and brittle wood.”

From Los Angeles Times