Meaning & use
baobab
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A large African tree with a thick trunk that stores water and can live for hundreds of years.
Grammar: Countable: you can use 'a baobab' or 'baobabs'.
Patterns
- a baobab tree
- the baobab's trunk
The baobab is often called the tree of life because it provides food, water, and shelter.
We saw a huge baobab standing alone in the dry savanna.
Baobabs can store thousands of liters of water in their trunks.
Word forms
| plural | baobabs |
|---|
Common combinations
- baobab tree
- The baobab tree is a symbol of the African savanna.
- giant baobab
- The giant baobab towered over the village.
- baobab fruit
- The baobab fruit is rich in vitamin C.
- baobab seed oil
- Baobab seed oil is used in many skin care products.
Synonyms and how they differ
- monkey bread tree
- Another name for the baobab, referring to the fruit that monkeys eat.
- upside-down tree
- A nickname for the baobab, because its branches look like roots when it has no leaves.
Commonly confused: baobab or baboon?
baobab vs baboon
A baboon is a type of monkey; a baobab is a tree. They sound similar but are completely different.
Practice
What is a baobab?
Choose one answer.
A baobab is a large African tree known for its massive trunk. The other options describe a baboon (a monkey), a cactus, or a vine fruit, which are not baobabs.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “baobab”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.