American bittersweet
- noun
- /əˈmɛrɪkən ˈbɪtərˌswit/
- Specialized
:
bittersweet americano
- The brilliant scarlet seeds of the American bittersweet make it a popular choice for winter decorations.
Examples
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We found a tangled vine of American bittersweet growing along the old fence line.
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Gardeners often plant American bittersweet for its colorful berries and climbing habit.
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I saw an American bittersweet climbing up the old tree.
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The American bittersweet is known for its bright red seeds.
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Gardeners often plant American bittersweet for its colorful berries and climbing habit.
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The brilliant scarlet seeds of the American bittersweet make it a popular choice for winter decorations.
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We found a tangled vine of American bittersweet growing along the old fence line.
Synonyms
A climbing shrub from North America with yellow seed pods that show red seeds
A climbing plant with yellow pods that show bright red seeds in the fall
A climbing North American shrub with yellow pods and red seeds
A climbing plant from North America with yellow pods holding bright red seeds used for decoration
A climbing shrub with yellow seed pods that show bright red seeds
A climbing bush from North America with small yellow pods holding bright red seeds
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward noun phrase where 'American' simply specifies the origin/type of the noun 'bittersweet' (a shrub or vine). A B1 learner who knows both words can reasonably infer it refers to a bittersweet plant from America, so the meaning is compositional and immediately recoverable.
Etymology
American bittersweet gets its name from the yellow seed pods that split open to show bright red seeds on a climbing vine. One popular story says the seeds look 'sweet' but taste 'bitter', so the word bittersweet, a mix of 'bitter' and 'sweet', fits the plant, and 'American' simply shows it is the 'North American' kind.
