noun
Common
nato
Nato (noun) means a tropical tree in the genus Mora, native to parts of Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Example: “A tall nato tree shaded the village path near the river.”
noun
1
A tropical tree in the genus Mora, native to parts of Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
"A tall nato tree shaded the village path near the river."
"The furniture maker preferred nato for its warm reddish grain."
"Nato timber is often used as a cheaper substitute for mahogany."
2
The reddish-brown wood harvested from the nato tree, used in furniture, plywood, and boat building.
"The carpenter chose nato for the table because it was strong and affordable."
"The cabinet was built entirely from nato plywood."
"Nato is popular with boat builders because it resists rot fairly well."
How to use nato
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA type of tropical tree, or the reddish wood it produces, often used as a budget alternative to mahogany.
Common mistake
Not to be confused with NATO (the military alliance), which is unrelated and always capitalized.
Common pairings
nato wood
nato plywood
nato timber
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Word forms
- Plural
- natos
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A tall _____ tree shaded the village path near the river.
Etymology
Formed from North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Rhymes for nato
See all rhymes for nato →Frequently asked questions
What does “nato” mean?
The word “nato” means a tropical tree in the genus Mora, native to parts of Southeast Asia and the Pacific. In plain terms, a type of tropical tree, or the reddish wood it produces, often used as a budget alternative to mahogany.
How do you use “nato” in a sentence?
Here is “nato” used in a sentence: “The furniture maker preferred nato for its warm reddish grain.”
What part of speech is “nato”?
“Nato” is a noun.
Is “nato” a common word?
“Nato” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “nato” have?
“Nato” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tropical tree in the genus Mora, native to parts of Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Is nato wood related to NATO the military alliance?
No. Lowercase nato is a tropical tree in the genus Mora, and the reddish-brown wood harvested from it. NATO in capital letters is the acronym of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; the two words simply share a spelling.
What is nato wood used for?
Nato is a reddish-brown timber used in furniture, plywood, and boat building. It is also familiar to guitarists as an affordable wood for guitar necks, where it is often chosen as a lower-cost alternative to mahogany.
Is nato wood the same as mahogany?
No. Nato comes from tropical trees in the genus Mora, not from true mahogany species. It is used as a mahogany substitute because of its similar reddish-brown colour and workable character, which is why the two are often compared in furniture and instrument making.
Is nato a hardwood?
Yes, in the botanical sense: hardwood means timber from broadleaved flowering trees, and the nato tree is a broadleaved tropical species. Its timber is solid enough for demanding uses such as boat building and furniture.
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