almendro

almendro — noun

1. a large tropical tree with broad leaves that turn red before falling, originally

1.nounC1
Definition

a large tropical tree with broad leaves that turn red before falling, originally from Asia but now found in many warm regions around the world, that produces a hard-shelled nut which can be eaten and tastes similar to an almond.

Example

Zola's almendro tree keeps the garden cool during the hottest months.

collocation: almendro tree + keeps cool / provides shade

Hannah collected almendro nuts from the beach path and cracked them open for a snack.

collocation: collect + almendro nuts for eating

Common collocations
  • almendro tree
  • almendro nut
  • almendro leaves
  • almendro seedling
  • almendro wood
  • plant an almendro
  • almendro grows in
Synonyms
  • Malabar almond

    the most widely used English name for this tree, common in botanical sources

  • tropical almond

    emphasises the warm-climate habitat; used in gardening and horticulture

  • Indian almond

    highlights the tree's Asian origin; common in older botanical texts

Grammar Patterns

the almendro

an almendro tree

almendro nuts / leaves / seedlings

Usage Note

In English, 'almendro' is less common than the alternative names 'tropical almond', 'Malabar almond', or 'Indian almond'. It appears most often in botanical descriptions or when referring to the tree in a Spanish-speaking region. The scientific name is Terminalia catappa.

Common Mistakes

I bought a bag of almendros at the supermarket.
I bought a bag of almonds at the supermarket.
'almendro' refers to the tropical tree (Terminalia catappa) or its nut, not the common almond (Prunus dulcis) sold in shops.

Word family

  • almond
    nounA2
  • Malabar almond
    nounC1
  • tropical almond
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four names refer to the same tree (Terminalia catappa), but they differ in register and region. 'Almendro' is a Spanish loanword used in English mainly in botanical writing or when the tree is described in a Spanish-speaking setting; it is the least common of the four. 'Malabar almond' is the standard English name in botanical references and scientific literature, named after the Malabar Coast of India. 'Tropical almond' is more common in gardening and horticulture contexts, highlighting the tree's warm-climate preference. 'Indian almond' appears in older texts and reflects the tree's native range. For example, a botanist might write 'the Malabar almond is native to coastal regions of the Indian Ocean,' while a gardener might say 'tropical almond trees provide excellent shade in coastal gardens.'

almendro ↗Malabar almondtropical almondIndian almond

Common collocations

Phrases

  • almendro tree
  • almendro nut
  • almendro leaves
  • plant an almendro
  • almendro seedling

Etymology

GreekLatinSpanishEnglish

The word 'almendro' comes directly from Spanish, where it means 'almond tree'. Spanish inherited it from Latin 'amygdalus', which itself came from Greek 'ἀμύγδαλος' (amugdalos). The name was given to the tropical tree Terminalia catappa by Spanish explorers because its hard-shelled nuts closely resemble those of the true almond (Prunus dulcis) in both appearance and taste, even though the two trees are not closely related.

First known use

1902

1902, in the meaning defined above