co·pai·ba (k?-p??b?, -p??-)n. 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.[Spanish, from Portuguese copaíba, from Tupí cupaiba.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.copaiba (k???pa?b?) or copaivan (Elements & Compounds) a transparent yellowish viscous oleoresin obtained from certain tropical South American trees of the leguminous genus Copaifera: used in varnishes and ointments. Also called: copaiba balsam or copaiba resin [C18: via Spanish via Portuguese from Tupi]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014co?pai?ba (ko??pe? b?, -?pa? b?) n. an oleoresin obtained from several tropical, chiefly South American trees belonging to the genus Copaifera, used chiefly in varnishes and lacquers and in cleaning oil paintings. [1705?15;