California yew
- noun
- /ˌkælɪˈfɔrnjə ju/
- Specialized
:
tejo de California
- Wood from the California yew is valued for its strength and fine grain.
Examples
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The California yew grows in moist forests along the Pacific coast.
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The California yew is native to the western United States.
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Botanists are studying the distribution of the California yew in Oregon and Washington.
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Many California yews grow in the coastal regions.
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The California yew is prized for its fine, hard wood, making it a favorite among furniture makers.
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In the forests of California, the California yew can be found thriving in the shade of taller trees.
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Craftsmen often select California yew for its beautiful grain when creating high-quality wooden art pieces.
Synonyms
A small evergreen tree from the west coast valued for its hard, fine wood
A yew tree from the Pacific coast of North America with uneven branches and dark green leaves
A small or medium tree with hard wood that grows on the Pacific coast of North America
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning — a species or variety of yew associated with California — is directly and transparently derived from combining the place-name 'California' with the noun 'yew'. Place-name + noun species labels are a common compositional pattern cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the intended meaning.
Etymology
California yew is named for being a kind of yew tree that grows in California and nearby coastal forests. People noticed its hard, fine-grained 'wood', so the name helps you remember it is a small to medium tree valued for strong, useful wood.
