Aztec lily
- noun
- US
:
lirio azteca
- Each Aztec lily produces a stunning solitary bloom in early summer.
Examples
-
The gardener planted several Aztec lilies to brighten the flowerbed with their vibrant color.
-
She bought an Aztec lily bulb at the botanical garden's spring sale.
-
The Aztec lily blooms beautifully in spring.
-
I love the vibrant color of the Aztec lily.
-
Each Aztec lily produces a stunning solitary bloom in early summer.
-
She bought an Aztec lily bulb at the botanical garden's spring sale.
-
The gardener planted several Aztec lilies to brighten the flowerbed with their vibrant color.
Synonyms
A plant from Mexico that grows from a bulb with a single bright red flower, also called the Aztec lily
A Mexican plant that grows from a bulb with one large bright red flower
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is a straightforward adjective–noun naming: 'Aztec' denotes origin/association with the Mexica/Mexico and 'lily' denotes a flowering plant, so the overall meaning (a lily associated with the Aztecs/Mexico) is directly derivable from its parts. This compositional pattern for species or cultivar names is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the intended sense.
Etymology
Aztec lily gets its name from where the plant comes from and how it looks: Aztec points to the people and place in 'Mexico', and lily describes its large, bright flower that looks like a lily. So the name helps you remember it is a Mexican bulb with a single showy bloom.
