copra

IPA/ˈkɒprə/
KK[kˈoprə]IPA/ˈkɑːprə/

copra — noun

1. the dried, oily kernel of a coconut that is crushed to extract oil for use in co

1.nounC1
Definition

the dried, oily kernel of a coconut that is crushed to extract oil for use in cooking, cosmetics, and industrial products

Example

Sakura bought dried copra from a village co-operative to press for oil.

copra + press + oil — production process

The copra industry supports thousands of families in coastal regions of Indonesia.

collocation: copra industry

Common collocations
  • produce copra
  • dry copra
  • copra production
  • copra prices
  • crush copra
  • export copra
Synonyms
  • dried coconut

    less specific; can refer to any dried coconut product, not just the kernel

  • coconut meat

    generic term for the edible white flesh, whether fresh or dried

  • coconut kernel

    botanical term for the inner seed; less common in everyday speech

Grammar Patterns

uncountable; used as a mass noun

Usage Note

Copra is an uncountable noun that refers to the dried kernel before oil extraction; the finished product is called coconut oil. Frequently used in discussions of trade, agriculture, and food processing.

Common Mistakes

She made curry with fresh copra from the market.
She made curry with fresh coconut from the market.
Copra is the dried form used for oil production, not fresh coconut flesh.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Copra is the most specific term, referring strictly to the dried kernel of a coconut that serves as a raw material for oil extraction. 'Dried coconut' is broader — it can describe any part of the fruit that has been dried, including the husk or shredded flesh used in baking. 'Coconut meat' is the everyday term for the fresh white flesh inside a coconut, which can become copra after drying. 'Coconut kernel' is a botanical term rarely used in daily conversation. For example, a farmer produces copra to sell to an oil mill, but a cook grates fresh coconut meat for a curry.

dried coconutcoconut meatcoconut kernel

Common collocations

Nouns

  • copra market
  • copra trade
  • copra mill
  • copra plantation

Phrases

  • bag of copra
  • ton of copra
  • copra production facility

Etymology

MalayalamPortugueseEnglish

Copra entered English in the late 18th century from Portuguese, which had borrowed it from the Malayalam word കൊപ്ര (kopra), meaning 'dried coconut'. Malayalam is a language of the Kerala region in southwestern India, where coconut cultivation has a long history. The word spread through colonial trade routes across the Indian Ocean and Pacific.