oil palm

oil palm (plural oil palms)

1. A plant of species Elaeis guineensis, principal source of palm oil and palm kernel oil.
   • 2010, Helon Habila, Oil on Water, AudioGO (2011), page 79:

     We […] could see a chain of islands in the distance ahead of us: the tall oil palm trees were like flags waving us in.

2. Any species of palm which can usefully produce palm oil.

• (Elaeis guineensis): African oil palm, macaw fat

• (any palm that produces palm oil): Elaeis oleifera (American oil palm); Attalea maripa (maripa palm); Cocos nucifera (coconut palm)

• lamp-oil, oil lamp, palm oil, palm-oil