gutta-percha

[ guht-uh-pur-chuh ]
/ ˈgʌt əˈpɜr tʃə /

noun

the milky juice, nearly white when pure, of various Malaysian trees of the sapodilla family, especially Palaquium gutta.
the tough, rubberlike gum made from this and used as a dental cement, in the manufacture of golf balls, for insulating electric wires, etc.

Origin of gutta-percha

1835–45; < Malay gətah (spelling getah) tree sap + perca rag, strip of cloth; perhaps so called from the appearance of the sap (Malay getah taban) in its marketed form

Example sentences from the Web for gutta-percha

British Dictionary definitions for gutta-percha

gutta-percha
/ (ˈɡʌtəˈpɜːtʃə) /

noun

any of several tropical trees of the sapotaceous genera Palaquium and Payena, esp Palaquium gutta
a whitish rubber substance derived from the coagulated milky latex of any of these trees: used in electrical insulation and dentistry

Word Origin for gutta-percha

C19: from Malay getah gum + percha name of a tree that produces it

Medical definitions for gutta-percha

gutta-percha
[ gŭt′ə-pûrchə ]

n.

A rubbery substance from the latex of any of several tropical trees, used as a temporary filling material in dentistry and in the manufacture of orthopedic splints.