A tree native to Morocco that produces oil-rich nuts used to make valuable cosmetic and culinary oil.
From Moroccan Arabic 'argan,' possibly from Tamazight Berber languages. The word entered European languages through Moroccan trade and colonialism, and modern usage accelerated with the global cosmetics industry.
Argan oil has become a global phenomenon, but the argan tree grows almost nowhere on Earth except a small region of Morocco—it's been there for centuries, and now it's one of the most sought-after beauty ingredients, making Moroccan women's traditional practices unexpectedly trendy worldwide.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.