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Definition of catalpa

catalpa

/kəˈtæl.pə/
ca · tal · pa
Plural:catalpas
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catalpa Lexical Profile

catalpa Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A deciduous tree of the family Bignoniaceae, native to North America and eastern Asia, widely known for its broad, heart-shaped leaves, clusters of showy, trumpet-shaped white flowers, and distinctive long, slender seed pods.

Example

"The children loved playing under the wide canopy of the old catalpa in the backyard, occasionally collecting its long seed pods to use as imaginary swords."

• Rhymes for catalpa

• Nearby Words

cat gecko
cat snake
cat-eyed snake
catalpa
catalytic converter
catananche
catania

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the Muscogee (Creek) Native American word 'kutuhlpa', meaning 'winged head', likely referring to the shape of the tree's flowers. It was adopted into English in the early 18th century.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Catalpa. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/catalpa
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