balata: Meaning and Definition of

ba•la•ta

1. a nonelastic, rubberlike, water-resistant gum that softens in hot water and is obtained from the latex of a tropical American tree, Manilkara bidentata: used chiefly in the manufacture of machinery belts, golf ball covers, and as a substitute for gutta percha. Cf. bully tree.
2. a tree, Mimusops balata, of Madagascar.