an aromatic resin obtained from certain South American trees (genus Copaifera) of the caesalpinia family: formerly used in medicine, now used in varnishes, etc.
any of these trees
Origin:
Sp & Port < Tupí cupaiba
See copaiba in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
A transparent, often yellowish, viscous oleoresin obtained from South American trees of the genus Copaifera in the pea family, used in certain varnishes and as a fixative in some perfumes.