Quranic root
طلح
ṭ · l · ḥ
The root has two principal semantic branches: the طَلْح tree and physical emaciation or exhaustion, with a figurative extension to badness or corruption.
The lexical evidence keeps the tree branch distinct from the branch of wasting and fatigue; the latter also yields expressions for poor condition, weariness, and figurative badness.
- Maqāyīs · row 3046
- Lane · entry 11542
- Lane · entry 11551
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 3
- Quran senses
- 1
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
طَلْح
ṭalḥ
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
A talh tree: a large, thorny tree of the acacia or mimosa-like ʿiḍāh kind.
In the Quranic occurrence, this interpretation identifies the word with the tree known as طَلْح; the collective noun has the singular طَلْحَة.
- Lane · entry 11545
- Mufradāt · row 906
Selected Quran examples
Quran 56:29word 1
“And banana trees”
Banana trees.
A lexicographical interpretation of the tree mentioned in 56:29; this identification is reported as disputed in the classical evidence.
- Lane · entry 11545
Selected Quran examples
Quran 56:29word 1
“And banana trees”
The spadix or spathe of a palm tree, as a dialectal or letter-substitution variant of طَلْع.
This is another reported interpretation of the Quranic occurrence in 56:29, rather than the ordinary tree sense.
- Lane · entry 11545
Selected Quran examples
Quran 56:29word 1
“And banana trees”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 56:29وَطَلْحٍۢAnd banana trees
Broader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 20 Classical meanings
طَلِحَ؛ طَلِحٌ
To suffer a belly complaint, or to be described as having such a complaint; especially said of camels affected after eating طَلْح.
The adjectival form is applied to camels. The evidence records a competing explanation that the condition denotes fatigue rather than digestive disorder.
- Lane · entry 11542
- Lane · entry 11548
طَلِحَ؛ طَلْحٌ
To be, or to have, empty or void of food in the belly; also, the state of having the belly empty of food.
The verbal use is said of a person, while the nominal description denotes the corresponding condition.
- Lane · entry 11542
- Lane · entry 11545
طَلَحَ؛ طَلِيحٌ
To become lean, emaciated, fatigued, or jaded; طَلِيحٌ describes one rendered lean or exhausted.
The verb is especially used of a camel, including one exhausted by travel, disease, or exertion; طَلِيحٌ may be applied to camels and other animals. It can also describe a she-camel jaded by journeys.
- Lane · entry 11542
- Lane · entry 11552
- Lane · entry 11548
طَلَحَهُ
To render someone or something lean or emaciated, or to fatigue it.
The direct object may be a camel or another being subjected to fatigue; the form also has the derived verbal noun تَطْلِيحٌ.
- Lane · entry 11542
طَلَحَ
To become bad, corrupt, or vicious.
A figurative use, explicitly contrasted with becoming صالح; it is applied to a person.
- Lane · entry 11542
طَلَّحَ عَلَيْهِ
To importune or press someone persistently until he becomes weary.
Especially said of pressing a debtor; the expression is figurative and has the verbal noun تَطْلِيحٌ.
- Lane · entry 11543
طَلْح
The remains of turbid water in a watering-trough or tank.
A nominal use referring to residual, muddied water.
- Lane · entry 11545
طِلْح
A tick, especially a large tick.
The word is used for the parasitic insect; related expressions extend from this sense.
- Lane · entry 11546
طِلْحُ مَالٍ
A keeper, manager, or good herder of camels or cattle.
An idiomatic expression based on the tick's attachment and persistence with its host.
- Lane · entry 11546
طِلْحُ نِسَاءٍ
One who habitually pursues or follows women.
An idiomatic, figurative expression describing frequent pursuit.
- Lane · entry 11546
طِلْح
A fatigued or weary herder or pastor; in the plural, herders or pastors.
This is a specialized pastoral use distinct from the insect sense and from the general adjective for an exhausted animal.
- Lane · entry 11546
طَلَح
Enjoyment of a life of ease and plenty.
The form is specifically distinguished from the similarly written tree noun by its vocalization.
- Lane · entry 11547
طَلِحَة
Land abounding in طَلْح trees.
An adjectival description of a place or tract of land.
- Lane · entry 11548
أُمُّ طَلْحَةٍ
The louse.
A fixed lexical expression.
- Lane · entry 11549
طَلْحِيَّة
A piece of paper.
The evidence labels this usage postclassical rather than an ordinary early Classical Arabic term.
- Lane · entry 11550
طَلَاح
Badness, corruptness, or viciousness.
A figurative noun applied to a person and contrasted with صَلَاح.
- Lane · entry 11551
طَالِح
Bad, corrupt, vicious, or without good.
An adjectival description of a person, explicitly contrasted with صَالِح.
- Lane · entry 11554
طِلَاحِيَّة
Descriptive of camels feeding upon طِلَاح or طَلْح trees.
A relational or descriptive adjective used with camels; it does not introduce a separate tree species.
- Lane · entry 11553
مُطَلِّح
One who acts wrongfully, unjustly, or injuriously with respect to property, camels, or cattle.
A specialized participial description concerning wrongful treatment or dealings.
- Lane · entry 11555
مُطَلِّح
One who breathes hard or emits a moaning sound while speaking.
A reported lexical use in speech; the source notes a possible uncertainty in the related synonym's reading.
- Lane · entry 11555
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The single Quran occurrence at 56:29 has multiple reported lexical interpretations: the talh tree, banana trees, and طَلْع, the palm spadix or spathe. The contextual English rendering favors banana trees but does not resolve the classical disagreement.
The camel-related evidence records disagreement over whether طَلِحٌ denotes a belly complaint caused by eating طلح or fatigue and emaciation; both attested explanations are preserved separately in the Classical coverage. The hard-breathing use of مُطَلِّح is likewise reported with some uncertainty in the associated wording.