balata
Tropical tree latex
Balata is a tropical American tree that produces a latex similar to rubber, or the dried gum extracted from it.
The material was once important for making machine belts, golf ball covers, and other products requiring a substance tougher than rubber but more flexible than gutta-percha.
The old golf balls had balata covers that skilled players preferred for their soft feel.
The term appears occasionally in crossword puzzles but rarely in everyday conversation.
Tropical fruit tree
- chicleTree sap for gum
- tappingRepeated light striking
- latexMilky plant-derived polymer
- barkSharp canine vocalization
trunk · canopy · evergreen · rainforest · timber · hardwood · tropical · arboreal
Tree sap for gum
- latexMilky plant-derived polymer
- resilientAble to recover quickly
- waterproofImpervious to moisture
- durableAble to withstand use
vulcanization · polymer · thermoplastic · coagulated · dried · processed · raw
Repeated light striking
- bleedingBlood loss from injury
- collectionGathered set of items
- sapPlant circulatory fluid
- latexMilky plant-derived polymer
incision · bucket · coagulation · processing · wildcrafting · extraction · sustainable · traditional
Northern South American republic
- SurinameSouth American republic
- AmazonGreek warrior women
- VenezuelaNorthern South American republic
- BrazilLargest South American nation
Trinidad · rainforest · indigenous · Arawak · export · colonial · trade · Demerara
Forceful chest-voice singing
- conveyorMechanism that transports items
- gasketsRings that prevent leakage
- sealsAquatic whiskered mammals
- insulationThermal transfer prevention
tubing · hoses · machinery · waterproofing · abrasion-resistant
Spherical plaything or gala
- coverProtect by overlaying
- vintageQuality from past eras
- dimpleFacial skin depression
- coreCentral essential portion
wound · classic · hickory · persimmon · traditional · collectible · antique · tournament
sapodilla
Tropical fruit tree
bark · trunk · canopy · evergreen · rainforest · timber · hardwood · tropical · arboreal · botany
chicle
Tree sap for gum
- latexMilky plant-derived polymer
- resilientAble to recover quickly
- waterproofImpervious to moisture
durable · vulcanization · polymer · thermoplastic · coagulated · dried · processed · raw
tapping
Repeated light striking
- bleedingBlood loss from injury
- collectionGathered set of items
- sapPlant circulatory fluid
latex · incision · bucket · coagulation · processing · wildcrafting · extraction · sustainable · traditional · seasonal
Guyana
Northern South American republic
Brazil · Trinidad · rainforest · indigenous · Arawak · export · colonial · trade · Demerara · Orinoco
belting
Forceful chest-voice singing
- conveyorMechanism that transports items
- gasketsRings that prevent leakage
- sealsAquatic whiskered mammals
insulation · tubing · hoses · machinery · waterproofing · abrasion-resistant
ball
Spherical plaything or gala
core · wound · classic · hickory · persimmon · traditional · collectible · antique · tournament · old-school
balatasynthetic rubber
Man-made flexible polymer
neoprene · vulcanized rubber · silicone rubber · polyurethane