copra: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Commercial
Quick answer
What does “copra” mean?
The dried white flesh of the coconut from which coconut oil is extracted.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The dried white flesh of the coconut from which coconut oil is extracted.
The processed commodity product used in the production of oils, soaps, and animal feed.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage; the term is identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral commercial/agricultural term in both regions.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, confined to specific commercial/agricultural contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “copra” in a Sentence
The factory processes [copra] into oil.They export [copra] to Europe.The price of [copra] has risen.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in commodity trading, agricultural exports, and manufacturing supply chains.
Academic
Appears in agricultural economics, tropical botany, and food science texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Standard term in agronomy, oil processing, and animal feed production.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “copra”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “copra”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “copra”
- Using 'copra' to refer to a fresh coconut.
- Pronouncing it /kəˈprɑː/ (incorrect stress).
- Misspelling as 'coprah' or 'copera'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While it comes from a food source, copra itself is the dried, often industrial-grade product used for oil extraction and animal feed, not typically for direct human consumption as a snack.
Major producers include the Philippines, Indonesia, India, and various tropical island nations in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Copra is dried for industrial oil extraction, often with less focus on culinary quality. Desiccated coconut is specifically dried and grated for food use, with higher quality and hygiene standards.
No, 'copra' is exclusively a noun in modern English. The process is described as 'drying coconut to produce copra'.
The dried white flesh of the coconut from which coconut oil is extracted.
Copra is usually technical/commercial in register.
Copra: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒprə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkoʊprə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
COPRA = Coconut Oil Prepared Ready for Action (the drying process prepares it for oil extraction).
Conceptual Metaphor
COPRA IS A RAW MATERIAL (mapped from source domain of commodities).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'copra' primarily used for?