1. a South American palm tree (Attalea speciosa) that produces large nuts with edible kernels and valuable oil
Usage: also spelled babassu or babaçu; botanical/commercial term
2. the large nut produced by the babassu palm, or the oil extracted from it
Usage: used in cosmetics, cooking, and industrial applications

Examples

• The babassu palm grows wild throughout the Amazon region.
• Babassu oil is increasingly used in sustainable cosmetic products.
• Local communities harvest babassu nuts for both food and income.
• The kernels of the babassu nut are rich in lauric acid.
• Babassu cultivation offers an alternative to deforestation in Brazil.