madera

wood

noun mah-DEH-rah Less Common

Origin: From Latin materia, also the source of English 'material' and 'matter.'

Also means

timber

Usage Note

Madera refers to wood as a material, both raw timber and worked wood. It is also used figuratively: tener madera de means 'to have the makings of' something (tiene madera de líder, 'he has the makings of a leader'). The phrase toca madera ('knock on wood') is a common superstition equivalent, like English 'touch wood.'

Examples

"La mesa está hecha de madera de roble."

Natural Translation

The table is made of oak wood.

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