Search Dictionary
Definition of pamba
pamba
/ˈpɑːmbə/
pam · ba
Plural:pambas
pamba Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
12
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A major river in the southern Indian state of Kerala, known as the third longest in the state and holding deep cultural and religious significance.
Example
"Millions of pilgrims traditionally bathe in the Pamba before commencing their trek to the Sabarimala temple."
2
A genus of skipper butterflies in the family Hesperiidae, natively found in the Neotropical region.
Example
"The entomologist carefully cataloged several specimens belonging to the genus Pamba during the expedition to South America."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for pamba• Rhymes for pamba
Word Origin & Etymology
The river name derives from local Malayalam and Dravidian origins, closely associated with the historical Pampa region referenced in the Ramayana. The butterfly genus was named by W.H. Evans in 1955.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Pamba. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/pamba